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NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 

BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS 

PART OF VOLUME VIII 



BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIR 



CHARLES ANTHONY SCHOTT 
1826-1901 



CLEVELAND ABBE 



PRESENTED TO THE ACADEMY AT THE ANNUAL MEETING, 1914 



CITY OF WASHINGTON 

PUBLISHED BY THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 

March, 1915 




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NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 

BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS 

PART OF VOLUME VIII 



BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIR 



OF 



CHARLES ANTHONY SCHOTT 
1826-1901 



CLEVELAND ABBE 



PRESENTED TO THE ACADEMY AT THE ANNUAL MEETING, I914 



CITY OF WASHINGTON 

PUBLISHED BY THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 

March, 1915 



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TAno 
'S3A52, 



WASHINGTON, D. C. 

PRESS OF JUDD & DETWEIEER, INC. 

1915 



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OCT 18 1M4 



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CHARLES ANTHONY SCHOTT. 



It is inevitable that those to whom is vouchsafed a long life 
of usefulness should outlive the friends of their youth. One 
who would at this late day speak of the early life of our col- 
league, Charles Anthony Schott, will find .that his life was 
wholly devoted to the work of the Coast Survey. His com- 
panions of those days have passed away; were they living we 
cannot doubt that they would give one universal testimony. 
The indefatigable Bache would recall his own visit to Germany 
in 1836- 1838, his inquiry into the condition of scientific educa- 
tion, and his eventual report thereon. He would recall an 
interview with Gauss and his account of the geodetic and mag- 
netic work in which that gifted man was interested. He would 
recall that he had himself visited the Polytechnic School at 
Carlsruhe and knew that any graduate from that institution, 
where Schott began study three years later, would be a desir- 
able addition to America and to the Girard College that was 
then uppermost in his mind. He would tell us of Humboldt, 
of Sabine, of Bessel at Konigsburg, of Struve at Dorpat, and 
of the great works they were doing for the benefit of the world. 
Bache esteemed highly the educators and the scientists of Eu- 
rope and did not hesitate to employ both in American works. 

It is not a light matter to properly depict the strength and 
work of one who, like Carl Anton Schott, left the impress of 
his own character and of his example on every detail of such a 
great national undertaking as our Coast and Geodetic Survey, 
and equally so on every man associated with him in the prose- 
cution of the work of the Survey. As a great man's influence 
never ends, so also there is no definite finality, no end, to a 
great survey ; it runs along for centuries, ever responsive to the 
strain of the increasing needs of a growing population and an 
enlarging domain. Granting that we must protect our shipping 
by surveying, mapping, and guarding. our coasts; that we must 
map our interior lands to keep up with increasing business 
enterprises, and that we must do this with every new addition 
to our possessions ; it follows that the Survey becomes one of 

87 . ' '- 



NATIONAL ACADEMY BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS — VOL. VIII 

our permanent institutions, essential to our prosperity. It 
must increase in thoroughness, efficiency, and expense so long 
as our Republic preserves its vitality and energy. Its activity 
must penetrate into every branch of knowledge and into every 
new path of exploration. 

We vividly realize the pleasure it must have given Schott, 
from his youth onward to old age, to take such an important 
part for over 50 years in framing the fundamental organiza- 
tion of the Survey and its attendant geodesy. From his early 
education at Carlsruhe as a civil engineer, and from his first 
employment, at the age of 22, by Bache, he appreciated the im- 
portance of a thorough knowledge of field work as well as 
office work ; his own activities in every line of work have served 
as ideals for hundreds of expert assistants. The hydrography 
of harbors, channels, rivers, and oceans, the details of the 
minute accuracy of base-line measurements, the sources of 
errors in geodetic triangles, the methods of determining astro- 
nomical latitudes and longitudes, the methods of hypsometric 
determinations, the errors of magnetic and pendulum appara- 
tus, were all known and appreciated and many of them greatly 
improved by him, to say nothing of -the effective systematiza- 
tion introduced by him into all computations and office work. 

Schott's six years of study at the Carlsruhe Polytechnic af- 
forded him the basis for his life work. His early years were 
spent in helping Bache to lay solid foundations for the struc- 
ture that was to bring honor to all engaged upon it. He 
brought to us from Germany those abilities and tendencies that 
by inheritance and education characterize the great German 
nation, to which we are ourselves so closely related. European 
civilization has developed innumerable peculiarities, character- 
istic of nations, families, localities, and the progress of the 
age. These have been brought across the Atlantic from Europe 
to America with each successive wave of migration. The ideal 
example set before us by Schott, his energy, adaptiveness, per- 
severance, both intellectual and physical, his love of home, 
drawing, painting, and mathematical precision, are to be held 
as most precious characteristics. 

Our colleague was born at Mannheim on the Rhine, in the 
Duchy of Baden, August 7, 1826, the oldest son of Anton Carl 



CHARLES ANTHONY SCHOTT ABBE 

Schott and Anna Maria Hoffmann. The inheritance of some 
property by the mother sufficed to insure the comfort of the 
family during the succeeding years. The happiness of the child 
at home is well assured by a glance at the sweet little "new 
year's poem" read by him on January i, 1833, as a tribute to 
his parents on that annual holiday. "To your faithfulness 
alone I owe my happiness" is the prevailing sentiment that 
pervades his lines. Many years later, when his own children 
begged for some sketch of his early life, he wrote a page or 
two from which I am allowed to quote : 

Autobiography of the Early Life of ChareEs Anthony Schott. 

'As the most momentous question in any biographical sketch is that 
of birth, I begin with that event, which happened to me on August 7, 
1826, at Mannheim, in the Duchy of Baden, at the confluence of the 
Neckar and the Rhine. My parents belonged to the middle class, my 
father being a merchant, the son of a judge, who left him no fortune in 
consequence of the Napoleonic wars, which were particularly hard on 
the inhabitants of the Rhine provinces. My mother, however, being an 
heiress, placed us in comfortable circumstances. 

"It was stipulated at the marriage of my parents that any children 
that might be born should be reared in the Lutheran faith. Although 
my father was christened in the Catholic church he was nevertheless a 
man of free thought. All religious ideas that I ever had were due to 
my mother's influence. I had two sisters and one brother, my sister 
Anna being the only one who lived to old age. 

"My earliest recollection is of nry crying on being unable to open 
my eyes one morning, they being glued together. My second, a walk 
across the market-place with my parents. We met an acquaintance who 
asked me, 'How old are you ?' My mother told me to say, 'I am in my 
third year.' My first memory of school days is learning to read my 
letters from a book spread on the teacher's lap. Sitting one day in a 
big arm-chair, one of my parents asked me, 'Karl, do you want to go to 
school?' I said, 'Yes,' and was promptly sent to the free public school, 
being then six years old. Here I was taught the rudimentary studies — 
reading, writing, spelling, arithmetic, and a little geography — for three 
years. At this time we had a French governess at home to drill us in 
the French language. 

"At the age of ten or eleven I entered the Lyceum or classical school 
at Mannheim, where I was pestered with Latin for four years and one 
year with Greek, to my great disgust, as I had more aptitude and keen 
sense for natural history. Beside the classics we had mathematics, nat- 
ural history, geography, and, the last year, rudiments of physics, but no 
teaching in other language than the German and no history except the 

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NATIONAL ACADEMY BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS VOL. VIII 

ancient. The whole plan of the Lyceum was conducted with the idea 
of cutting off- all liberal thought and severing all connection between 
Roman and Greek history and modern history. One redeeming feature 
was the admittance of some athletic sports. Attendance on religious 
instruction was compulsory, with an effect only skin deep. That I must 
have had something of an inquisitive mind I infer from the fact that 
my schoolmates nicknamed me 'Vir doctus.' 

"Having shown some talent and inclination for mechanics and an 
eagerness for scientific study, my father determined to send me to the 
Polytechnic School at Carlsruhe, in 1840, to perfect myself in civil engi- 
neering. For the first two years I was placed in the home of the pro- 
fessor who had charge of the physical laboratory, where I laid the 
foundation of experimental inquiries. Here I received a stimulus and 
became conscious of a desire and capacity for serious work. I enjoyed 
the utmost freedom as to the workings of my own mind, absorbing with 
intense interest not only the multifarious topics taught, but making in- 
dependent investigations and associating myself with kindred minds for 
pursuit of other knowledge, especially the rudiments of astronomy, for 
which at that time no chair existed. With a small hand telescope, a 
home-made sun dial, and a star chart, I acquired some knowledge of 
the constellations, and with the help of Littrow & Bode's 'Astronomy' I 
was enabled to compute lunar and solar eclipses, to my intense gratifi- 
cation. I here also learned to handle magnetic instruments, to which in 
later life I devoted much time. 

"The three preparatory departments of the Polytechnic were success- 
fully passed, and the last three years were devoted especially to engi- 
neering, so I graduated at the age of 20 as civil engineer of Baden. Of 
six graduates I came out as number 2 of the class of 1847. These six 
years at Carlsruhe I reckon among the most pleasant of my life, mak- 
ing frequent excursions on foot through the Vosges Mountains and the 
Schwarzwald, gratifying also my love for drawing and sketching. Later 
I penetrated into Switzerland and upper Italy, Lombardy, Milan, and 
Venice, also visiting the art galleries of Munich to study their treasures. 

"I expected soon to enter the service of the State, as the railroad 
development at that time required engineering ability; but in this I was 
disappointed, owing to the great political agitation for freedom in Ger- 
many, known as the revolution of 1848. After shouldering a musket 
for a short time in the liberal ranks, and not finding military life con- 
genial, and seeing no early chance of making a living, I obtained leave 
of absence from the State to visit the United States, with a view of 
perfecting myself in my profession. About this time my father met 
with reverses in business, and had the misfortune to become blind; this 
forced me to rely upon my own resources. 

"With about $150, I set out for America, in June, 1848, at the age 
of 21." 



90 



CHARLES ANTHONY SCHOTT — ABBE) 

As above stated, and after serving the State for a year, 
Schott obtained leave of absence, in 1848, to visit the United 
States, "with a view of perfecting myself in my profession/' 
as he says. But if he entered our Survey with the idea that it 
was only a temporary employment, and that he should even- 
tually return to Mannheim, he was very happily disappointed, 
for he never left its service. Eventually he became a natural- 
ized citizen of the United States. He served our Government 
and the Coast Survey to the day of his death, July 31, 1901, 
a little less than 53 years. 

His voyage, starting from Mannheim on Thursday, June 15, 
and ending in New York City on Tuesday, August 8, 1848, is 
fully narrated in a daily journal still preserved by his family 
and which I have been permitted to inspect. This journal is 
full of remarks bearing upon such matters as a most intelli- 
gent engineer and student would be likely to note, notwith- 
standing the great difficulties under which he labored, in com- 
pany with many others, on an English sailing ship of about 
1,500 tons. The vessel is spoken of as the Prince Albert of 
London, and it progressed under sail very slowly. He gives an 
interesting analysis of the psycological phenomena attending 
the four movements of the ship "lengthwise, crosswise, ver- 
tically, and twisting for two days and three nights ; and I have 
scarcely any seasickness, but a slight headache." "Smoking 
and the cloudy weather of the English Channel produce no sea- 
sickness like that of English passengers who eat much meat; 
but now and then a thought of homesickness." He gives many 
suggestions with regard to the provisions that each passenger 
must provide for himself or else buy of the ship's cook. He is 
particularly interested in the navigation of the vessel, the sex- 
tant observations for latitude and longitude, the currents of the 
water in the ocean, the variety of birds above the ocean, and 
the animal life in the ocean, of which he writes like a young 
naturalist on his first voyage of discovery. Undoubtedly, the 
journal was written for transmission to his parents and must 
have furnished the basis for many interesting letters. Those 
were the days preceding regular steamship navigation across 
the Atlantic, but he had seen something of steamboats on the 
Rhine. His steamboat experience of 24 hours from Rotterdam 

9i 



NATIONAL ACADEMY BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS — VOL. VIII 

to London (June 20, noon, to June 21) on the Batavia, with 
colossal engines of 200 horsepower, had given opportunity for 
many personal experiences. To him "London seems smoked 
like a ham in a chimney and is thoroughly unpleasant to me as 
a residence." The captain of the Prince Albert sailed slightly 
south of New York, against the Jersey coasts, where he was 
becalmed, "so that we should not have arrived for two days 
longer had it not been for a steamer that picked us up 40 miles 
from New York." What a contrast between the present days 
and those when, as he says, "we passed the quarantine, and at 
a short distance from the city the luggage was examined, but 
in a very superficial manner, so that one might smuggle as 
much as one wished." He had had a premonition that he 
should arrive on the twenty-second anniversary of his birth- 
day, and doubtless he wished it to be so, for his journal con- 
cludes with the words, "Now that I have safely arrived, may 
my other wishes also soon be realized." 

Having landed in New York August 8, 1848, but scantily 
provided with money and conscious of the failing strength of 
his father, we feel assured that Schott must have found some 
temporary employment, being thrown upon his own resources 
while looking about for an opening in his profession as engi- 
neer. It is said, on credible authority, that Schott came with 
letters of introduction to a very distinguished countryman and 
compatriot, Theodore E. 'Hilgard,* of Zweibriicken, the ducal 
city of the Palatinate, not far from Mannheim, and which 
after various vicissitudes had been returned to Bavaria as a 
part of her possessions by the Treaty of Luneville about 1814. 
He was an eminent German jurist and author, who had mi- 
grated to America and settled with his family, in 1835, on the 



* Theodore E. Hilgard, the father of J. E. Hilgard, was the cousin of 
Gustavus Hilgard; the latter was the father of Ferdinand Heinrich 
Gustav Hilgard, who was born at Speyer in 1835 and educated at Zwei- 
briicken and Munich. Emigrating from the latter city, he stayed for a 
while with his grand-uncle, Theodore, near Belleville. Eventually Fer- 
dinand became famous under his adopted name as Henry Villard, the 
American journalist and financier, who died in 1900. The students of 
eugenics will be interested to know that from the single grandparent in 
Zweibriicken (Jacob Hilgard and Marie Dorothea Engelmann) there 
descended men of such eminent ability as Theodore E., born 1800; Gus- 

92 



CHARGES ANTHONY SCHOTT — ABBE 

prairie near Belleville, Saint Clair County, Illinois, when his 
eldest son, Julius Erasmus Hilgard, was 10 years old. The son 
removed to Philadelphia in 1843, a t the age of 18, to pursue the 
study of civil engineering. Here he became acquainted with 
Bache, who had been appointed Superintendent of the Coast 
Survey in 1845 and who soon added T. E. Hilgard to his civ- 
ilian force. Doubtless it was through Hilgard that Schott was 
. brought to the notice of Bache and into the service of the 
Coast Survey, his appointment dating from December 8, 1848. 
At that time Bache, the Superintendent, at the age of 37, Hil- 
gard at 23, and Schott at 2.2, formed a trio of young men by 
whom the Survey was to be moulded into its present shape. 

Should we not stop a minute to consider and compare Bache, 
the organizer of men; Hilgard, the man of affairs; Schott, the 
adviser and computer in great geodetic operations. 

The most prominent trait in the life of that gifted man, 
Alexander Dallas Bache, was his wisdom and ability in calling 
to himself and holding the great body of men needed to do his 
work in the best possible manner. The reorganization of the 
Survey, in 1843, was Du t a natural culmination of his early work 
as chemist in the University of Pennsylvania and his work as 
educator in Girard College. He had a perfect appreciation 
not only of the needs of the Survey, but of the character of 
the American people. He inherited the ability and wisdom of 
his grandsire, Benjamin Franklin; he had been trained in the 
discipline and traditions of West Point; he was devoted to 
exact science and an authority on everything bearing on educa- 
tion. Thrown into daily contact with the ablest men in every 
department of life, gifted with unusual geniality, acceptable to 
every element in American society, he gathered together the 
army, the navy, the civilians and the scientists, the beginners 

tavus, distinguished in law ; Julius E., born 1825, distinguished in phy- 
sics ; Theodore, born 1828, professor at the University of Munich ; Hein- 
rich Villard, born 1835, the financier ; Eugene Waldemar, born 1833, the 
American geologist and chemist, and finally Otto Hilgard Tittmann, 
the son of Rosa Hilgard, born at Belleville in 1850, who entered the 
Coast Survey in 1867 and has been its Superintendent since 1901. Dr. 
George Engelmann, the botanist of St. Louis, and his cousin, J. E. Hil- 
gard, the physicist, were among the founders of our National Academy 
of Sciences. 

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NATIONAL ACADEMY BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS — VOL. VIII 

and the experts into one harmonious mass of active workers, 
among whom none were more enthusiastic and active than 
Hilgard and Schott. 

After spending a few months in New York, Schott appears 
to have applied for work under Bache, or rather with Hilgard, 
who was just a year older than himself and had had analogous 
education, but not quite so much severe training. They were 
equally industrious and enthusiastic, and from that time on- 
ward were closely associated in all the work of the Survey until 
the resignation of Hilgard in 1885. Bache always praised them 
both for these same qualities ; but as Hilgard developed in the 
humanities, while Schott devoted his whole thought to the in- 
tricacies of the fundamental geodetic operations, therefore 
Bache, as General Superintendent, soon perceived that Schott, 
as a trained engineer, mathematical geodesist, and clear-headed 
magnetist, was the man to whose hands all intricate calcula- 
tions could be safely intrusted. Thus it came about that long 
after the death of Bache (February 17, 1867) the computing 
division, the vital heart and vivifying blood of the whole Sur- 
vey, continued to receive the impress of Schott's sturdy char- 
acter, his thoroughness, honesty, modesty, fairness, persever- 
ance, persistent search for error. 

Are not these traits the natural results of the habit of 
thought incidental to a thorough university training? In the 
delightful days of college life and university life it is the senior 
professor whose kindly words do honor to himself and his 
students also by public recognition of the merits of the young 
candidates for university degrees. The encouragement and 
stimulus thus given to a modest young man in his long search 
after the hidden truths of nature is the most admirable feature 
of student life. It was this that gained the devotion and love 
of many a student of Neumann, Bessel, Struve, in the early 
days when Germany was teaching the world that her strength 
lay in the fullest recognition of every man's originality and 
ability. Her query was, "Whose brain thought of this? Show 
me the man." It was this spirit of good work and full credit 
that filled the air at Mannheim and Carlsruhe in those troubled 
days of 1848. Those were the days that tried men's souls in 
Germany. My own revered instructor, General Koerner, of 

94 



CHARTS ANTHONY SCHOTT- -ABBE 

the College of the City of New York, was one of the many 
then expatriated, and fortunate it was for me that, in 1850, in 
New York he found employment for his talents in descriptive 
geometry. No wonder that Schott left Mannheim to find 
peace and work in the new world. 

A beautiful testimony to Schott's character and influence in 
life was summed up in the mortuary tribute expressed by his 
associates on August 1, 1901 : 

"He was enthusiastic, faithful, and diligent in all duties he was called 
upon to perform, and through his learning and probity earned a reputa- 
tion extending over two continents which is most worthy of emulation. 
Conscientious and expert in his specialties — geodesy and terrestrial mag- 
netism—his labors added immeasurably to the reputation of the Bureau 
and of his comrades who gathered the material he so ably discussed. 
The methods of computation now in use in the Bureau are an indelible 
record of his ability. His high ideals of duty and his tireless and per- 
sistent striving for them, made him stand forth as a noble example of 
the best type of public official, and his uniform kindliness endeared him 
to those who knew him as a friend." 

BIBLIOGRAPHY. 

It will be profitable to consider in detail some of Schott's 
works. These are mostly official publications of the Coast Sur- 
vey and are enumerated in detail in the appended bibliography, 
for which we have to thank Mr. Ralph M. Brown, the Libra- 
rian of the Coast and Geodetic Survey. We have arranged 
the titles chronologically in order that one may follow the 
steady development of the broad system of study that Mr. 
Schott maintained during his lifetime. It is to be noted that 
the natural quietness and the perfect modesty of our colleague 
rarely allowed him to read any special memoir in public. His 
life was one of quiet thought and labor; his best judgment was 
daily called forth in matters of the highest precision; he was 
the best of advisers, but not given to public expositions or 
popular display. Having become a citizen among us, having 
entered the congenial service of Bache and his adopted coun- 
try, he remained in continuous service from December, 1848, 
to July, 1 90 1. These 53 years, through many changes of ad- 
ministration, enabled him to carry to perfection a great sys- 
tematic work; he was our ultimate authority during his life- 

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NATIONAL, ACADEMY BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS — VOL. VIII 

time in matters relating to geodesy, terrestrial magnetism, 
practical astronomy, standards of length, hypsometry, and cli- 
matology. Probably no one in this country has covered so 
wide a range of close study, accurate knowledge, and laborious 
computation. The list of his publications constitutes an im- 
pressive monument, built of his own works, better than a 
marble cenotaph raised to his memory. 

HYDROGRAPHY AND OFFICE WORK. 

The first practical problems of the United States relative to 
the coast consisted in determining the locations of dangers to 
navigation, such as rocks, shoals, and the treacherous currents 
due to winds and tides. Schott's attention had been drawn to 
this subject first when he left Rotterdam and sailed from Lon- 
don along the shores of Kent and through the English Channel, 
and again when he skirted the American coast of New Jersey 
northward to New York. These were his first experiences in 
oceanic coastal waters. He was quick to perceive the sources 
of danger, and asked Bache that his official duties might include 
hydrographic service as well as office work in Washington. 

The first office buildings of the Coast Survey were in some 
old residences adapted to office work, on the southerly slope of 
Capitol Hill, adjacent to the residence of Daniel Carroll, of 
Duddington. They are now replaced by Government struc- 
tures. The delightful southeasterly breeze of summer was in 
those days filled with mosquitos and malaria from the canals 
and marshes, but the progress of recent years has removed 
the canals and marshes and other objectionable features. The 
shambles and slave-pens, the old railroads, the telegraph poles, 
the surface drains, the yellow fever and the cholera of 1830- 
1860 have given place to our model city of the present century. 

In those days it was a physical relief and an intellectual ad- 
vantage to escape from office work in the summer months and 
devote that season to the field work and the pure air implied 
in hydrography and geodesy. Both Bache and all of his assist- 
ants profited by such summer months of field work. The semi- 
annual transfers of duty from Washington northward or 
southward, or even from the Atlantic to the Pacific coasts, be- 
came an important hygienic feature in the office work. Thus 

96 



CHARLES ANTHONY SCHOTT ABBS 

it was that in the very beginning Schott was assigned as occa- 
sion demanded, alternating between hydrography, geodesy, and 
the computing division. After his first assignment, in 1848, to 
the latter division he was soon drawn away, namely, October, 
1849, to hydrographic work in Albemarle Sound and Mobile 
Bay, under Commander James Alden. In August, 1861, he 
made the survey of Casco Bay, and in 1863 determined the 
location of all the fortresses or earthworks thrown up for the 
defenses of the city of Washington. 

TH£ COMPUTING DIVISION. 

Early in Schott's official life Bache had perceived his special 
fitness for extensive geodetic computations. For some years the 
computing division was officially in charge of Schott only dur- 
ing the absence of J. E. Hilgard ; but the gradual extension of 
the work and his evident fitness brought about a reorganiza- 
tion, in 1854, and on July 1, 1855, Schott became wholly re- 
sponsible for this division and so remained for 45 years. Bache 
realized the absolute dependence of the Survey upon men thor- 
oughly trained in both mental work and physical work — the 
sound mind in the sound body. Such men as A. A. Hum- 
phreys, of West Point; James Alden, of the Navy; Sears C. 
Walker, among the astronomers ; C. A. Schott, of the Poly- 
technic School ; he could always rely on implicitly. He seemed 
instinctively to know where to look for his assistants and 
whom to choose. In his annual report of 1848, page 57, Bache 
says: 

"A superficial examination of the subject, or the taking for granted 
of a prescribed routine, is apt to impress one with notions of the great 
accuracy of results in which are concealed constant errors of grave 
importance. Turning up the surface develops these concealed errors 
and leads to scientific discovery. The action of different minds acceler- 
ates the progress of truth, and on this account I have published a paper 
of Assistant Sears C. Walker." . . . 

It was by "turning up the surface" that Walker discovered, 
in 1847, the old observations of Neptune by Lalande, on May 
16, 1795. 

In his report of 1850 Bache says that George Davidson, 
H. M. Harrison, James S. Lawson, and John Russell, in April, 

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NATIONAL ACADEMY BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS VOL. VIII 

1850, "volunteered to serve in any extremity and in any duty, 
however hard or manual, relating to the survey of the coast of 
California." This was his way of securing men who proved 
their faithfulness during many subsequent years. This was 
the beginning of the California surveys and the strenuous rush 
work of 1850. The extension of the Survey to the Pacific coast 
made it necessary for Schott to be called in, on July 18, 1850, 
from his hydrographic work under James Alden, and brought 
about a more detailed organization of all office work. Prob- 
ably the first evidence of his genius consisted in his compari- 
son, during 1848 and 1849, of the first and second sets of com- 
putations of the observations for latitude with the zenith tele- 
scope, at the station Unkonoonuc, for the method was novel 
and the sources of instrumental error as yet unknown. 

Every successive annual report of the chief bears witness to 
the steadily increasing impression made upon all by his genius 
and his work. Thus, in 1851, page 93, Bache says: 

"He has great aptitude for scientific investigations, whether pertain- 
ing to astronomical, magnetic, geodetic, or hydrographic subjects, and 
his zeal and industry are fully equal to his ability." 

Again, in his report for 1853, on pages 8 and 9, he writes : 

"The computing department of the office has attained a position of 
efficiency worthy of all praise, and of special mention in enumerating 
the permanent results of the work, though this has been due not to the 
efforts of one, but of many years, combined with remarkable zeal and 
assiduity directed by clear intellect and ample knowledge." 

Bache kept the personal acquaintance and oversight of every 
man ; neither navy, nor army, nor civilian, nor scientific alone, 
but each and all together. In the report for 1854 Bache agrees 
with Captain Benham, who was then in charge of the office, 
that "the computing division is an excellent organization, the 
most regular, efficient, and economical of any of the branches 
of the office." On July 1, 1855, Schott was made chief of the 
computing division and his colleague, Hilgard, soon became 
chief of the office work in general. In connection with suc- 
cessive increases in salary, which are generally accompanied 
by a few words of commendation, we find, on page 155 of the 
report for 1858, Bache says: 

98 



CHARLES ANTHONY SCHOTT — ABBE 

"I agree with Palmer, in charge of the office, that the ability, indus- 
try, and strict attention to duty that characterize the chief of the com- 
puting division are rarely equalled. His health suffers from the con- 
finement to which his duties have subjected him." 

The successive appointments and responsibilities which came 
to Schott are here brought together : 

1848, Dec. 6. Appointed in the Coast Survey at $25 per month and 

assigned to computing division. 

1849, April — . Assigned as hydrographic draftsman under Lieut. James 

Alden to the schooner 7. Y. Mason, operating in Albe- 
marle Sound. 

1850, do. do. Operating in Mobile Bay. 

1850, July 17. Returned to the computing division. 

1853, Dec. 3. Received naturalization papers as an American citizen. 

1854, Jan. 1. Marriage to Teresa Gildermeister at Washington, D. C. 

1855, July 1. Appointed chief of computing division, Coast Survey. 

1861, Aug.-Oct. In charge of the schooner Joseph Henry, making hydro- 

graphic survey of Casco Bay, Maine. 

1862, . [Hires a negro as his substitute for army service dur- 

ing the Civil War. The Royal Society of London 
sends him a letter of thanks for his reduction of tidal 
observations in the Arctic Seas made by Elijah Kent 
Kane.] 

1863, . [By request of Major Barnard he determined the posi- 

tions of the fortifications erected in defense of Wash- 
ington. September 28, date of marriage to Bertha 
Gildermeister at Prairie Home, Illinois.] 

1869, Jan. 1. Conducted a party to Illinois to observe total eclipse of 

the sun. 

1870, . Sent to Catania, Sicily, as a member of the Superintend- 

ent's party to observe total eclipse of the sun. 

1871, . A founder of the Philosophical Society of Washington. 

1872, . Elected a member of the National Academy of Sciences. 

1874, . Made a member and Fellow of the American Associa- 
tion for the Advancement of Science. 

1896, . Made a member of the Sociedad Cientifico Antonio, 

Alrata, Mexico. 

1898, . Represented the Coast and Geodetic Survey at Inter- 
national Conference on Terrestrial Magnetism at 
Bristol, England. 

1898, . Made a member of Washington Academy of Sciences. 

1898, . Awarded the Wilde Prize by the French Academy of 

Sciences. 

1899, Feb. 4. Wilde Prize delivered by President McKinley in person. 

99 



NATIONAL ACADEMY BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS — VOL. VIII 

1899, Dec. 31. Relieved from duty as Chief of Computing Division and 

assigned to charge of computation of arc measures. 

1900, . Transcontinental Triangulation, etc., published. 

1901, . The manuscript of the Eastern Oblique Arc completed. 

1901, July 31. Died at Washington, D. C. 

LONGITUDL AND LATITUDE}. 

Among the many innovations on methods that were formerly 
in use in Europe, one of the first to be encouraged by Schott 
and adopted by the Coast Survey was the so-called American 
method of recording by chronograph the observations made 
with the astronomical transit. Then quickly followed the ap- 
plication of this method to the determination of differences of 
longitude by the use of the Morse system of electro-magnetic 
telegraph. It would seem that crude forms of chronograph, 
with the complementary appliances added to the astronomical 
clock, were first devised by O. M. Mitchell, founder of the 
observatory at Cincinnati, his assistant, Mr. Twitchell, and his 
friend, Professor Locke, all of Cincinnati; but these were soon 
replaced by the Bond spring-governor. The gifted Sear C. 
Walker,* one of the first men secured by Bache for assistant 
in the Coast Survey, in 1847, was in charge of all longitude 
work until his death, in 1853. To Walker we owe the rapid 
development of this new American method of determining 
longitudes, which was subsequently perfected by our late col- 
league, Benjamin Apthorp Gould. To Mr. Schott fell the spe- 
cial duty of adjusting these most accurate longitudes into a 
homoneneous system. His report on the telegraphic longitude 
network of the United States and its connection with that of 
Europe by cable gave us the best results on that subject that 
we could have at that date. The recent application of radio- 
electric waves to the same purpose seems also to have been 
first tried by the Coast and Geodetic Survey, and is no greater 
advance on Walker's telegraph method of 1847 than was that 
on the eye and ear method of previous centuries. 



* Born 1805 in Massachusetts ; graduated at Harvard 1825 ; founder 
of the observatory of the Philadelphia High School ; appointed in the 
Naval Observatory at Washington in 1845. 



CHARLES ANTHONY SCHOTT — ABBE) 

Schott's initiation into the new ideas that were suggested in 
America covered not merely the application of the electric 
telegraph to longitude work, but equally so the application of 
Talcott's zenith telescope to the determination of latitudes, 
which rapidly replaced the prime vertical and other apparatus. 
In recent years the demonstration by S. C. Chandler of actual 
periodical variations in terrestrial latitudes and the correspond- 
ing periodical shift of the earth's polar axis was accepted by 
Schott with the liveliest interest, and in the light of this dis- 
covery he at once proceeded to review the observations of 
latitude made by numerous persons for use in the Coast Sur- 
vey. He had previously given special attention and instruc- 
tions as to the Coast Survey method of using the zenith tele- 
scope and had declined to order apparatus of the Repsold ver- 
tical circle type, having decided that the method of Capt. A. 
Talcott gave most reliable results. 

CHARTOGRAPHY. 

The methods of projecting or developing the surface of a 
spheroid on a flat surface of paper afford endless problems of 
importance to the geographer. Schott's decision was strongly 
and consistently in favor of the polyconic projection for many 
cases, and especially those in which large portions of the earth's 
surface are involved. Of course, a special system of projec- 
tion must be adopted to suit the nature of a given problem, and 
he gave us a lucid, comprehensive summary of our knowledge 
on this subject, showing the relative values of the polyconic 
and other projections. The polyconic seems eminently adapted 
to some meteorological problems, and has lately been urged 
upon the attention of the international meteorological com- 
mittee; but we still need a more appropriate projection — prob- 
ably a modification of the polar projections. 

The extensive memoir on projections by Craig and the com- 
parisons by Schott, as well as his extensive tables for the use 
of the chartographer, constitute valuable additions to our 
knowledge of the subject. 



IOI 



NATIONAL ACADEMY BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS VOL. VIII 

MISCELLANEOUS OBSERVATIONS. 

Several applications of mathematical methods to the needs 
of the work of the Survey led Mr. Schott to the consideration 
of special formulae for interpolation. Thus we find a memoir 
by him, in i860, on Cauchy's formula, and again one on the 
development of Bessel's functions, and another one on the 
solution of normal equations by indirect elimination. 

A few personal observations of astronomical character were 
published by Schott, such as his observations of the variable 
star Algol, in 1856 and 1858, and his observations of solar 
spots, in i860, 1861, 1862, enough to show that he was always 
willing to devote a few minutes of his precious time to assist 
others in gathering the facts needed in a new field of research. 

TERRESTRIAL MAGNETISM. 

Terrestrial magnetism occupied a large share of Mr. Schott's 
attention. His collections of original data on this subject are 
undoubtedly the most extensive of any that have been made 
relative to North America. They cover the widest range, both 
geographical and chronological; they were made the basis of 
the first detailed map of isogonic lines and of a study of the 
secular variation in magnetic declinations. 

A historical review of the work of the Coast Survey in con- 
nection with terrestrial magnetism was published by Schott in 
the report of the Survey for 1888. 

Our knowledge of terrestrial magnetism owes its present 
advanced condition to the universal interest in the magnetic 
needle, which has always been a puzzle to mariners, surveyors, 
and philosophers. Systematic observations of the needle were 
undertaken by all nations under the stimulus given by Alex- 
ander von Humboldt, Carl Friedrich Gauss, and General Sa- 
bine. They urged that Bache take up the subject, and the 
trustees of Girard College authorized him to build our first 
magnetic observatory in 1838. Observations at this observa- 
tory were made from 1840 to 1845, and in its connection a 
general magnetic survey of Pennsylvania was made, in 1840, 
by Bache. When he became the Superintendent of our Coast 
Survey, in 1843, he quickly saw that all this was but prepara- 

[02 



CHARLES ANTHONY SCHOTT — ABBE) 

tory to a great public work, and into this work Schott entered 
with delight. His own masters in Germany had imbued him 
with a sense of the importance of magnetics, and also with 
the pleasure of research in an unknown field. With Gauss and 
Weber as his great exemplars, Schott devoted all available time 
to magnetics. The accompanying bibliography shows the great 
work that he accomplished — an extensive collection of old 
American data ; a complete new reduction of all the Girard 
College work; the construction of new apparatus and the de- 
termination of new values for dip, declination, and intensity at 
many American stations ; an exhaustive study of the magnetic 
condition on board ships and the correction of the standard 
binnacle compass; the influence of the aurora; earth currents 
and magnetic storms and their relation to spots on the sun and 
the secular variation of the needle — until finally, in 1898, the 
council of the Academy of Sciences of France unanimously 
awarded to our colleague the gold medal established by Henry 
Wilde, and did not hesitate to say : 

"The extensive work accomplished by Mr. Schott cannot be stated in 
a brief resume. . . . The whole of this work furnishes one of the 
most important contributions in the history of terrestrial magnetism, 
and the committee is unanimous in awarding the Henry Wilde Prize to 
Charles A. Schott." 

The transmission of this medal to President McKinley and 
its presentation to Mr. Schott at the White House, February 4, 
1899, formed a very pleasant episode. An extract from the 
'President's remarks will always be worth reading: 

"I congratulate you . . . that you have been chosen from all the 
world as the one most worthy to receive this great honor. It is espe- 
cially pleasant in this age, when international relations are of high im- 
portance, to know that this fine prize, founded by an Englishman, has 
been awarded by Frenchmen and won by an American." 

In connection with the Wilde Prize, Dr. Henry S. Pritchett, 
who was at that time Superintendent of the Coast and Geo- 
detic Survey, writes as follows : 

"I knew Mr. Schott for a long time when I was an assistant to the 
Naval Observatory, but of course came to know him better when I 
went to the Coast Survey as Superintendent, in 1897. He was then the 
chief of the computing division, and it would be impossible to state too 

103 



NATIONAL ACADEMY BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS — VOL. VIII 

highly his ability and zeal in this work. For years past he had been 
the strength of the Survey in its geodetic computations and operations. 
One incident which I remember with great pleasure was the conferring 
upon Mr. Schott, in 1899, of the prize awarded by the French Academy. 
He had been subjected to so many annoyances and difficulties that 1 
asked President McKinley to confer this prize in person, and this was 
done at the White House, in the presence of a number of Mr. Schott's 
colleagues." 

When the news of this honor reached Mannheim, that city 
realized that it also had a share in this distinction. The sweet 
character of this most modest and lovable of men, who was 
known to most of us only as the disciple of rigorous mathe- 
matics, is shown by his lasting affection for the home of his 
childhood and by his happiness at being once more brought 
into close connection with the scenes of his boyhood and the 
friends he had left just 50 years before. 

The letter from the Mayor of the city of Mannheim with 
reference to the Wilde Prize is not in my hands, but I quote 
from a rough draft of Schott's reply : 

"It has been one of my greatest pleasures to receive the sentiments 
expressed in your letter of December 16, referring to the occasion of 
the Wilde Prize lately awarded to- me. What is most gratifying is the 
high appreciation on your part of any distinction conferred on one of 
the citizens of Mannheim, however long since and far away he may have 
wandered frorh his native town. 

"I must recognize the fact that whatever success in after life T may 
have attained is in a great measure due to the solid foundation laid in 
my early education in the city of my birth and later on at Carlsruhe. 

"After passing my State examination as civil engineer and anxious 
for active work, I left home in the disturbed year 1848, and was fortu- 
nate enough to find here a field open for my taste and ambition. 

"I desire to thank you most sincerely for the transmission of the kind 
and appreciative sentiments sent me from my native town, which, I 
must confess, have once more strongly reminded me of the bonds which 
bind together my early and later life." 

In Mr. Isaac Winston's contribution to our knowledge of 
Mr. Schott (Science, August 9, 1901) he mentions that the 
early recognition by Bache of Schott's ability, zeal, indefatiga- 
ble industry, vast mental resources, caused his prompt assign- 
ment to the computing division and offered a wonderful op- 
portunity to a man capable of distinguishing himself, and this 

104 



CHARGES ANTHONY SCHOTT — ABBE) 

was realized to its fullest extent by Mr. Schott. He was placed 
in charge, in 1855, after jointly sharing its responsibilities with 
Mr. Hilgard, who was often absent in field work. From this 
time onward geodesy and magnetics claimed an equal share in 
the office work; meteorology and climatology as a part of ter- 
restrial physics took up a greater part of his non-official time. 
By such huge labors as these one must necessarily become a 
computing machine and an automaton; only the most rigid 
systematic economy of time and strength could enable one to 
endure this life-long habit of thought. Both quickness of 
action and economy of health were favored by his habit of 
standing at his work desk, thereby contributing to a state of 
health so perfect that no infirmity attacked him until the last 
few months of his life. He was always able to throw off the 
work and worries of office life and to find complete recreation 
in drawing and painting. Many specimens of the latter are 
still preserved. 

CLIMATOLOGY. 

Climatology afforded an attractive field for the gifted coun- 
tryman of Humboldt, Kaemtz, Mahlmann, Lamont, Dove, and 
other students of physical geography. In addition to his ex- 
tensive official works, Schott found time to publish a long series 
of volumes on the climate of America, beginning first with his 
temperature tables, 1876, and including the climate of the 
American polar region, meteorological observations in the Arc- 
tic Seas, similar observations in Arkansas, auroral observa- 
tions at Lady Franklin Bay, magnetic observations at Point 
Barrow, and precipitation in the United States. Each of these 
volumes contains elaborate discussions of fundamental clima- 
tological data, and would give our colleague a place among the 
most prominent climatologists were he not already the most 
distinguished magnetist and geodesist of America.* 



* As my four charts in Walker's "Statistical Atlas" of 1873 have by- 
some been attributed to Schott and by others to Jackson and again to 
General Myer, it is proper to state that documents signed officially by 
high authorities sometimes originate with subordinates and are merely 
communicated over official signatures. 

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NATIONAL ACADEMY BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS — VOL. VIII 

Unfortunately, the data in hand for climatological charts 
were in those days not sufficiently extensive to allow of reduc- 
ing all the data to any given fundamental interval, as is now 
possible, owing to the accumulated 40 years of research by the 
United States Weather Bureau, therefore those pioneer charts 
are gradually being supplanted ; but this does not destroy their 
character as having been an important step upward in this 
branch of science. 

In 1862, in his reduction of the observations by McClintock, 
Schott gave us the first published table for converting the 
Smithsonian scale of ten arbitrary terms for the strength of 
the wind into the equivalent velocity in miles per hour. In 
the annual Coast Survey report for 1869 he was the first to 
invert the ordinary hypsometric formula, and thus make the 
barometric readings the basis of a computation of the average 
temperature of the air between any two stations. Thus he first 
demonstrated the truth of Ferrel's early assumption that there 
is only a very slight diurnal variation in the average tempera- 
ture of the whole mass of air; the ordinary diurnal variation 
for any locality belongs to the ground and the air that is near- 
est thereto and not to the free air in the upper regions. A few 
years later this fact was also recognized in an extensive work 
by Ruhlmann (Leipsic, 1872), and ever since that date we 
have been justified in adopting a more uniform temperature 
throughout the day for the computation of altitudes by ba- 
rometric readings. Of course, the same principle holds good 
when we consider the problem of reducing to sealevel any 
barometric observations made at a considerable height above 
the sea. This idea was embodied, in 1871, in the abolition of 
current temperatures when reducing stations from great alti- 
tudes to sealevel for the purpose of drawing isobars on our tri- 
daily maps for the morning, afternoon, and midnight. This 
idea was also embodied in a recommendation made in 1885 by 
Gen. William B. Hazen, as chief of the Weather Bureau, to 
the International Congress held in Paris, namely, that only 
fairly uniform temperatures, changing slowly from day to day 
and hour to hour, should be used in computing the reductions 
to sealevel. Subsequently Prof. William Ferrel indorsed the 
same method and it is now in almost universal use ; so inti- 

106 



CHARLES ANTHONY SCHOTT — ABBS 

mately are geodesy and meteorology thus associated together. 
Another point of contact relates to the adjustment of the 
horizontal levelings and vertical angles of geodetic triangles. 
In the case of vertical angles the measurement and computa- 
tion of the atmospheric refraction is the fundamental question, 
and with this is associated the question of accurate hyp- 
sometry. On all these subjects, which may be called the mu- 
tual relations between the atmosphere and geodesy, many dif- 
ferent memoirs, perhaps 30 in all, were written by Schott. 

BASE-UNES AND METRIC STANDARDS. 

The methods of measuring base-lines for the primary trian- 
gulation occupied our colleague's attention from an early date. 
New forms of compensated bars and new methods of transfer- 
ring the measurement of one base-line to check measurements 
secured by measuring some distant base-line were always a 
delight to him. In general, however, it was absolutely neces- 
sary to secure consistency throughout the long years that 
elapsed between the first measurement of 1847 and the last 
adjustments of 1902. Of course, such consistency could only 
be secured by the retention of uniform methods of observation 
and computation throughout. Therefore the exigencies- of the 
service may be said to have evolved the man, who was both 
conservative and progressive — a man who knew how and where 
and when to make changes that would not affect the final re- 
sults disastrously. 

One of the ultimate objects to be kept in mind in such ex- 
tensive geodetic work is the determination of the true curva- 
ture of the earth for this part of the globe, and on this point 
Mr. Schott was very clear. There could be no gain in adopt- 
ing a special curvature for the American continent until arcs 
of longitude as well as arcs of the meridian should have been 
measured. 

Of course, the great geodetic operations of the United States 
must be combined with those of all other portions of the globe 
in order to improve our knowledge of the figure of the earth. 
But this cannot be done unless the base-measuring apparatus 
has been compared most carefully with the standards used by 
European geodesists. We therefore find a lucid memoir by 

107 



NATIONAL ACADEMY BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS — VOL. VIII 

Schott on the relation of the metric standards of length in Eu- 
rope and those used by the United States, the Coast and Geo- 
detic Survey, and the United States Lake Survey. 

GSODSSY. 

No better presentation of the breadth of Schott's compre- 
hension of the province of our Survey can be desired than that 
given in his unpublished report of 1885 on "the Geodetic Sur- 
vey of the United States, its objects and operations, considered 
from a theoretical and practical standpoint." 

In the manuscript of this special report, communicated Jan- 
uary 2, 1885, to J. E. Hilgard, as Superintendent of the Sur- 
vey, we find a detailed statement of "the province and opera- 
tions of a Geodetic Survey." Geodesy, astronomy, hypsom- 
etry, topography, gravitation are each properly evaluated and 
coordinated. The configuration of the true geoid as a slightly 
irregular modification of the fundamental spheroid is dwelt on 
as due to natural causes. The effect of the attraction of ex- 
ternal mountains and internal excesses or deficits, on the equi- 
potential surfaces under and over oceans and continents, the 
resultant variations both in the force of gravity and in the de- 
flection of the plumb-line from the vertical, were clearly recog- 
nized; but the later ideas of isostasy and compensation as 
maintained by Dutton, in 1892, and demonstrated later by 
Hayford, were refinements for which practical geodesists were 
not yet prepared. 

Little by little as Schott perceived the many new ideas that 
tended to dissipate his rapidly diminishing energies ; as the 
founders dropped away and his earlier personal supporters 
found rest in the grave, he realized that he must relinquish 
every branch of work that did not bear directly on the compu- 
tation of the results of the great triangulations that he wished 
to carry to their conclusion. Having divested himself of 
other details, he devoted his last years to the arrangement and, 
as it were, the codification of general results relative to two 
great geodetic arcs. The most delicate question, both in theory 
and practice, was the distribution of irregular densities within 
the earth and its effect upon deflections of the vertical and on 
the local forces of gravity. The first extensive discussions of 

108 



CHARLES ANTHONY SCHOTT — ABB£ 

this subject had been by Archdeacon J. H. Pratt, of India. 
Isostasy had been defended strongly by C. E. Dutton, in 1892, 
and provisionally adopted by Helmert in his treatise on ge- 
odesy, in 1884. Since Schott's death, in 1901, isostasy, with 
definite ideas as to compensation, has been worked over thor- 
oughly and with brilliant results by Hay ford, in 1906, consti- 
tuting, as Helmert once said, "a new epoch in geodesy." But 
during Schott's lifetime these seemed to him to be matters of 
subsidiary importance, and he was justified in omitting them 
from consideration until he had finished his first approxima- 
tion to that figure that is appropriate to our knowledge of 
the American continent. In a similar way the study of the in- 
fluence of the diurnal rotation of the earth on the east-west 
tidal strains as compared with the north-south strains is the- 
important but minor matter investigated in the prize essay of 
19 1 2 by Prof. J. E. H. Love. The question whether the earth 
is a failing structure; the transmission and refraction of earth- 
quake waves; the general character of variations of density, 
rigidity, and viscosity deep down within the solid earth, and 
other problems that are now of importance belonged to a fu- 
ture generation. Mr. Schott confined himself to the computa- 
tion, in the customary manner, of the arcs already measured. 
The deflections were treated as though they were accidental 
errors. Hayford's method corrects the deflections (with a 
high degree of approximation), and hence nearly true curva- 
tures are obtained. Schott had not found this method, and 
could not even attempt to correct for visible topography. Hay- 
ford had to devise new methods of computation to overcome 
the physical labor of doing what appeared to be an impossible 
undertaking with the means at his command. 

A recent letter from Professor Hayford, who is now Di- 
rector of the College of Engineering at Evanston, Illinois, says : 

"Mr. Schott was remarkable for his extremely methodical ways, his 
German thoroughness, and his intellectual honesty. For fifty years he 
worked with clocklike precision of movement, not hastening in sup- 
posed emergencies nor slowing in dull times. His mental habits were 
like his physical habits — regular and methodical. He had definite plans 
as to what should be done and moved forward toward accomplishing 
those plans with patient persistence, passing many other more brilliant 
men in the march of progress by virtue of the cumulative effect of his 

109 



NATIONAL ACADEMY BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS — VOL. VIII 

patient persistence and his careful methods. It is my belief that next 
to F. R. Hasslef he left more influence for good on the Coast and Geo- 
detic Survey than any other man who has ever been connected with it." 

The tangencies of continental outlines and of mountain 
ranges to the polar circles were emphasized by Robert Dale 
Owen, geologist of Kentucky. The fact that all these lines 
run tangent to the two polar circles shows that general faults 
have occurred during certain geological ages only when the 
strains in the earth's crust have been a maximum, and such 
can occur only when the sun and moon act together at apogee 
and perigee, just as with the ocean tides. The strains are due 
essentially to the push and pull of the ellipsoidal or equatorial 
bulge and have some hidden relation to terrestrial magnetism. 
The innumerable cracks and faults throughout the earth's 
crust show that although each bit of rock is rigid, yet the mass 
as a whole may be treated as a viscous globe, in which each 
uncracked piece of rock is as it were an independent molecule. 
A great fault or crack is located along the great circle of the 
Rocky Mountains, the Andes, Japan, the mountains of central 
Africa, and these constitute but a belt of weakness in the whole 
outer crust, extending entirely around the globe, giving us an 
aqueous and a continental hemisphere. The province of ge- 
odesy is to determine, first, approximately and then more ex- 
actly the shape of this resulting irregular globe. Every 
thought in Schott's life-work had this object in view, and it 
was fortunate that his health and strength were spared to give 
us a first approximation to the shape of the North American 
continent as the logical conclusion of the totality of the geo- 
detic work that had been conducted for fifty years by the 
whole Survey under his general guidance and detailed super- 
vision. 

The most remarkable of modern philosophers and the most 
modest — Sir Isaac Newton — knew that the earth must be a 
spheroid of revolution. Its dimensions were deduced very 
closely by Bessel in 1840, and Clarke in 1865 and 1880, based on 
measures made in the meridian, in Europe, Africa, India, and 
equatorial America. Pierce added to the conscious dignity of 
our Survey by enforcing its broad duty as both a Coast and a 
Geodetic Survey. Under his superintendency an arc of the 

no 



CHARTS ANTHONY SCHOTT — ABBK 

parallel from New York to San Francisco was authorized. 
This was additional to the oblique arc from Maine to Florida 
that was begun in the early days of the Survey, to which a 
meridional arc from Texas to Dakota is now added. Of all 
these far-seeing men it was Schott alone who was spared to 
see the completion of the longitudinal and the oblique arcs — 
arcs of unsurpassed extent and accuracy. A thousand men 
had lived and worked, grown old and died, and still the work 
had gone on. The Mexican war, the Civil war, and the Span- 
ish war had rolled over us like waves in the progress of the 
nation. Inventions and ideas by the thousand had contributed 
to the accomplishment of the work of the Survey, and still it 
went on; still Schott labored persistently in his little office- 
room, devotedly hoping and praying that he might live until 
the first results were attained as to the curvature of the globe. 
All had started out together, in 1843-1848, as geodetic pioneers 
in these new lands ; the country had spread from the Atlantic 
to the Pacific ; it had taken in Texas on the south and Alaska 
on the north; it had assumed control from Porto Rico to the 
Philippines. Schott could only hope to determine as a first 
step whether the curvature of America agreed with that of 
Europe, and well pleased were all to learn that his computa- 
tions for our continent fell midway between the results of 
Bessel and Clarke for Europe. 

Such a calculation as this, enlarging and fixing our ideas of 
the powerful action of gravity over the whole globe, may well 
have called forth emotions in his mind like those experienced 
by Sir Isaac Newton when he demonstrated that universal 
gravitation kept the earth and the moon in their proper places 
with respect to the sun. Schott's name is attached to these 
two great works on the longitudinal and the oblique arcs, but 
he added to his fame and reputation when he recognized a 
fact that is implied in his statement, "We have accomplished 
the work; but not I alone." It is thus that he stands at the 
summit of the pyramid that the whole Survey had erected, when 
he emphasizes the unity of all their labors. It was the culmi- 
nating contribution by America to the sum total of human 
knowledge regarding the exact shape of this globe of earth 
as the home of mankind. We place Schott's name beside those 



NATIONAL ACADEMY BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS — VOL. VIII 

of Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Dallas Bache, Joseph Henry, 
and all others who have relinquished their own personal incli- 
nations in order to carry out, unselfish to the end, the great 
works that each felt called on to do. Many a man seeks for 
that which gives personal ease and pleasure, but few seek for 
the highest usefulness that they are capable of. 

In a letter extending the sympathy of the Prussian Geo- 
detic Institute to the Coast Survey on the loss which the latter 
had susained in the death of Schott,. the eminent Director, Dr. 
George Helmert, thus refers to Schott's activity: 

"I am pleased to think that it was a German who developed for so 
many years such a wonderful activity in the Survey, and thus Mr. 
Schott did not only render great services to science by his successful 
work, but contributed to the esteem which two great nations have for 
each other." 



The completion of the two arcs already mentioned marks an 
epoch in the geodesy of the world. Such gigantic works re- 
quire very fortunate and rare combinations of national funds, 
stable governments, learned theories, convenient opportuni- 
ties, and well-trained experts. The administration of F. R. 
Hassler, 1806 to 1843, was necessarily occupied with details of 
small extent and daily importance, nor was the wealth of the 
young nation at that time favorable to such a great work. The 
administration of the gifted Bache, 1843 to 1871, was crowded 
with a multitude of duties — novelties of organization and mo- 
mentous national difficulties. The later administrations of 
Patterson, Pierce, Hilgard, Mendenhall, Pritchett, and the 
present long administration of Tittmann have enabled Schott 
and his successor, Hayford, to accomplish great works, for 
which the Survey now becomes famous in the field of scien- 
tific research. 

Our globe incites to innumerable problems, and every ad- 
vance in our knowledge suggests still others. Perhaps those 
that press most earnestly for speedy solution relate to earth- 
quake phenomena and the internal structure of the globe. Both 
geodesy and meteorology require so-called reductions to sea- 
level; the former would reduce! pendulum observations of 
gravity; the latter would reduce barometric observations of 

112 



CHARLES ANTHONY SCHOTT — ABBS 

air pressure, and each requires some knowledge of the other. 
The fact that Harford has shown that the observed deflections 
from the vertical, and that Bowie has shown that the observed 
variations in the intensity of gravity, are both satisfactorily 
explained by a proper consideration of isostasy and compensa- 
tion, justifies our belief that future researches will give us cor- 
rect ideas on the questions discussed by A. E. H. Love : Some 
Problems of Geodynamics (Cambridge, 1911). In this con- 
nection it would seem proper and necessary for the Survey to 
enter also into the study of seismology, which is now prose- 
cuted so vigorously in Europe and promises to give us definite 
knowledge with regard to the interior of the globe. 

The progress in terrestrial magnetism made by Bauer leads 
us to hope that another step may be made when we understand 
the influence of earthquake shocks in rearranging the subper- 
manent magnetic conditions of rocky strata. Some ideas on 
this subject were presented to the National Academy in 1887, 
which were subsequently published in 1889; at pages 8-17, of 
my "Preparatory Studies," and may possibly be worth consid- 
ering. It was Francis Bacon, of 1605, who said : "Knowledges 
are as pyramids whereof history is the basis ; so of natural 
philosophy the basis is natural history; the stage next this 
basis is physic ; the stage next the vertical point is metaphysic." 
Nowadays we omit the metaphysics, but are busy enough with 
natural philosophy and physics. 

The few words that we have given relative to history and 
physics must now be concluded with a tribute of affection and 
respect as to Schott's personal influence. From i860 to 1867 
I was only an humble aid in the Coast Survey, but I had known 
him by correspondence for a few years. My first personal in- 
terview and conversation was on the 3d of May, 1867, and I 
shall never forget the smile of genial sympathy as he discussed 
with me the need of greater accuracy in every line of work 
bearing on astronomy and geodesy; the need of divesting our- 
selves of every trace of injustice; the need of frankness and 
an honest recognition of assumptions that secretly beset every 
investigator. He entered lovingly into ideas that I brought 
back from Poulkova and into plans of astronomical work. He 
was the most helpful of friends, equally ready to give advice 

113 



NATIONAL ACADEMY BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS VOL. VIII . 

or to do helpful work. His long experience had inculcated the 
habit of patience in dealing with men. He knew how difficult 
it is for one man to see into a problem with the mental eyes 
of another. I could never think of him as arbitrary or as 
saying anything that injured the progress of any worthy indi- 
vidual. His wide experience and greater knowledge seemed 
always to harmonize with and widen the knowledge of others. 
His judgment and my theories sometimes coincided, and there 
was an affectionate aspect to our friendship, a mutual appre- 
ciation, a respectful confidence, such as must have been deeply 
realized by others as well as myself. 

Mr. Vinal, who came into the service 10 years after myself, 
was impressed like myself. He writes : 

"Mr. Schott was a man of earnest purpose, having at all times the 
best interests of the service at heart, systematic and thorough in all that 
he undertook. He accomplished a great work, as evidenced by his 
numerous reports and publications. All that come after him can only 
follow where he led." 

A few paragraphs from Prof. T. C. Mendenhall, who was 
Superintendent during the years 1889- 1894, may properly con- 
clude these lines : 

"My acquaintance with Schott began a good many years before it was 
my pleasure to be officially associated with him in the Coast and Geo- 
detic Survey. 

"During that association, lasting more than five years, my admiration 
for him increased, and there was added to it a genuine affection grow- 
ing out of his many charming personal qualities which were revealed, 
it sometimes seemed, almost reluctantly. In the hundred years of its 
existence the Coast Survey has enjoyed the services of many devoted 
and unselfish men ; but few others, if any, have equalled Schott in the 
faithful and conscientious devotion of his best abilities to the discharge 
of his duties. The best interests of the Survey and its work invariably 
received his first consideration. 

"The computing division, over which he presided, was as important 
to the whole organization as is the heart to that of a living man, 
though like that its work seemed to many almost painfully monotonous. 
His peculiar fitness for it was shown by the fact that to him it was 
never irksome. On the contrary, I am sure he found delight in the 
laborious calculations' in which he and his staff were continually en- 
gaged, for he know thai here was the crucible in which all of the vari- 
ous operations of the corps were at last tried out. He was quick to 

114 



CHARTS ANTHONY SCHOTT — ABBE 

recognize the excellence of a field officer's work when found satisfac- 
tory, after his rigid tests had been applied, and although by nature re- 
served in disposition and never lavish in praise, he was always glad to 
call generous attention to such work. On innumerable occasions he 
brought to me a few sheets of final computations, proving the high pre- 
cision and satisfactory character of a bit of field work, and I do not 
believe the observer himself could have found more pleasure in the 
results. In time I came to regard him as an excellent judge of the 
abilities and merits of men, for his conclusions were founded on tests 
of actual performance, uninfluenced by personal preference or prejudice. 
"His scientific work was characterized by a painstaking thoroughness 
which marked everything he did. Although along certain lines, notably 
that of terrestrial magnetism, he was recognized as one of the world's 
first authorities, yet I do not believe that his scientific investigations 
have yet received the general recognition and commendation to which 
they are entitled in virtue of their importance, extent, and high char- 
acter. Although a man of no uncertain mind regarding scientific ques- 
tions upon which he believed himself competent to speak, Schott was 
excessively modest and often declined to express views to which the 
scientific world would have listened with both pleasure and profit. 
Indeed, it was difficult to induce him to read a paper before small 
scientific societies, of which he was himself a member. Through long, 
industrious years his work went on quietly, much of it attracting little 
attention at the time. Few men have done so much with so little 
attending noise, and in this respect, as well as in many others, the 
example of his life may wisely be studied by those who have survived 
him." 

In conclusion one may be allowed to express regret that 
those distinguished chiefs of the Coast Survey — A. D. Bache, 
Benjamin Pierce, Carlisle Patterson, J. E. Hilgard — with whom 
Schott had served for so many years, cannot testify to us to- 
day as to their appreciation of his early services. I have 
quoted only from their successors — Mendenhall, Pritchett, and 
Tittmann — as to his later work. A few words from many 
of his old associates would have most gracefully concluded our 
brief review; but they, like him, repose under the green turf, 
in the silence of death. Only the organization of the Survey 
still stands — a permanent living monument to the foresight, 
energy, and ability of its founders. Through our Coast and 
Geodetic Survey new chapters have been added to the history 
of geodesy. It has been the foster-parent of new branches of 
exact science and has earned an imperishable crown of grati- 
tude from all students of terrestrial physics. 

115 



NATIONAL ACADEMY BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS VOL. VIII 



A CATALOGUE OF THE WORKS (ABRIDGED TITLES) OF 
CHARLES ANTHONY SCHOTT, 

Assistant, U. S. Coast and Geodetic Survey, 1848-1901. 
Compiled by Ralph M. Brown, October, 1908. 



app. 
Bull, 
pp. 
pt. 



Appendix. 
Bulletin. 
Pages. 
Part. 



Amer. Assoc. Adv. Sci. 

Araer. Journ. Sci. 

Trans. Amer. Soc. Civ. Eng. 

Astron. Journ. 

Astron. Jahresber. 

Nat. Acad. Sci. 

Nat. Geogr. Mag. 

Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv. 

Sci. Amer. Suppl. 
Smiths. Contr. Knowl. 
Smiths. Misc. Coll. 
Terr. Magn. 

Bull. Phil. Soc. Wash. 



Abbreviations. 

Rep. Report. 

Sep. publ. Separate Publication. 

Spec. publ. Special Publication. 

American Association for the Advance- 
ment of Science. 

American Journal of Science. 

Transactions American Society of Civil 
Engineers. 

Astronomical Journal. 

Astronomischer Jahresbericht. 

National Academy of Sciences. 

National Geographic Magazine. 

Report of the U. S. Coast and Geodetic 
Survey. 

Scientific American Supplement. 

Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge. 

Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections. 

Terrestrial Magnetism and Atmospheric 
Electricity. 

Bulletin of the Philosophical Society of 
Washington. 



Tables for projecting maps, with notes on map projections. (With 

E. B. Hunt.) Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 1853, app. 39, pp. 96- 

163. 
On the currents of Nantucket shoals. Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 

1854, app. 48, pp. 161-166. 
Currents in Muskeget channel and off the northeast coast of Martha's 

Vineyard. Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 1854, app. 49, pp. 166-168. 
Tidal currents of Long Island sound and approaches. Rep. U. S. Coast 

Geod. Surv., 1854, app. 50, pp. 168-179. 
Adjustment of horizontal angles of a triangulation. Rep. U. S. Coast 

Geod. Surv.. 1854, app. 33S, pp. 70-95. 
Discussion of the secular variation in the magnetic declination on the 

Atlantic and part of the Gulf coast of the United States. (Ed. I.) 

Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 1855, app. 48, pp. 306-337. 

116 



CHARLES ANTHONY SCHOTT — ABBE 

Results of observations for magnetic declination, dip, and horizontal 
intensity. Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 1855, app. 49, pp. 337. 

Solution of normal equations by indirect elimination. Rep. U. S. Coast 
Geod. Surv., 1855, app. 40, pp. 255-264. 

Discussion of the secular variation in the magnetic declination on the 
Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States, from observations in 
the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries. (Abstract from a report to the 
superintendent of the Coast Survey, dated July 6, 1855. Rep. U. S. 
Coast Surv., 1855, app. 48, and communicated by authority of the 
Treasury Department.) Proc. Amer. Assoc. Adv. Sci., vol. 9, Aug., 

1855, pp. 160-175. Suppl. Amer. Assoc. Adv. Sci., vol. 10, Aug., 
1850, pp. 173-177. 

Contribution to our knowledge of the climate of the American polar 
regions, with an accompanying illustration. In E. K. Kane, Arctic 
explorations, vol. 2, pp. 426-428. Philadelphia, 1856. 

Comparison of star-places given in Riimker's and the Twelve-year cata- 
logues. Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 1855, app. 45, pp. 278-286, and 
Astron. Journ., vol. iv, 1856, pp. 1 13-120. 

Magnetic observations made at stations in Delaware, Maryland, and 
Virginia. Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 1856, app. 29, pp. 226-227. 

Results of observations for magnetic declination, dip, and horizontal 
intensity at stations in Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia. Rep. 
U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 1856, app. 30, p. 22^]. 

An attempt to determine the secular change of the magnetic declination 
on the western coast of the United States. Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. 
Surv., 1856, app. 31, pp. 228-235. 

Discussion of the secular variation of the magnetic inclination in the 
northeastern states. Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 1856, app. 32, 
pp. 235-245. 

An attempt to determine the secular variation of the magnetic inclina- 
tion on the western coast of the United States. Rep. U. S. Coast 
Geod. Surv., 1856, app. S3, PP- 246-249. 

Discussion of the secular variation of the magnetic inclination in the 
northeastern states. Proc. Amer. Assoc. Adv. Sci., vol. 10, Aug., 

1856, pp. 177-187. Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 1856, app. 32. 
Determination of the probable error of an observation from the differ- 
ences of the observations from their arithmetical mean. Rep. U. S. 
Coast. Geod. Surv., 1856, app. 59, pp. 307-308. 

Contribution to our knowledge of the climate of the American polar 
regions, with an accompanying illustration. In E. K. Kane, Arctic 
explorations, vol. 2, pp. 426-428. Philadelphia, 1856. 

Notice of the determination of the longitude of Fernandina, Amelia 
island, Florida, by means of chronometer exchanges from Savan- 
nah, Georgia. (With A. D. Bache.) Proc. Amer. Assoc. Adv. Sci., 

1857, pp. 166-175 ; Canadian Journ., 1858, vol. 3, pp. 71-73. Also 
published as Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 1857, app. 30, pp. 314-324. 

Account of the method and formulae for the determination of the astro- 

117 



NATIONAL ACADEMY BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS VOL. VIII 

nomical latitude by means of the zenith telescope. " Rep. U. S. Coast 
Geod. Surv., 1857, app. 31, pp. 324-334- 

Report upon the gradual loss of magnetism of the several magnets in 
use in the survey of the coast. Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 1857, 
app. 32, pp. 334-342. 

Observations of the algol-minimum of 4th December, 1856, at Washing- 
ton city. Astron. Journ., vol. 5, Dec, 11, 1857, p. 93. 

Observations of the algol-minima of 21st of January and 5th of March 
1858 [at Washington, D. C.]. Astron. Journ., vol. 5, April 2, 1858, 
p. 128. 

Observations of the algol-minimum of 9th October, 1858, at Washington, 
(D. C). Astron. Journ., vol. 5, Nov. 2, 1858, p. 176. 

Rediscussion and development of an intermediate period in the secular 
change of the magnetic declination at Hatboro, Pennsylvania. Rep. 
U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 1858, app. 25, pp. 192-195. 

Report on the progress made in discussing the secular variation of mag- 
netic declination and dip, at Washington, D. C. Rep. U. S. Coast 
Geod. Surv., 1858, app. 26, pp. 195-197. 

Abstract of the principal results of the observations for temperature, 
at Van Rensselaer harbor, North Greenland, made by .the second 
Grinnell expedition, under the command of Dr. E. K. Kane, U. S. N., 
during 1853-1854-1855. Presented by Prof. A. D. Bache, from a re- 
duction and discussion by Chas. A. Schott, assistant, Coast Survey. 
Proc. Amer. Assoc. Adv. Sci., vol. 13, 1859, pp. 264-270. For com- 
plete paper see Smiths. Contr. Knoyvd., vol. 11, art. 5, pt. 1, pp. 1-50. 

Abstract of the principal results of the discussion of observations for 
atmospheric pressure at Van Rensselaer harbor, North Greenland, 
made by the second Grinnell expedition under the command of Dr. 
E. K. Kane, U. S. N., during i853-'54 and '55. Presented by Prof. 
A. D. Bache, from reduction and discussion by Chas. A. Schott. 
Proc. Amer. Assoc. Adv. Sci., vol. 13, 1859, pp. 270-276. For com- 
plete paper, see Smiths. Contr. Knowl., vol n, art 5, pt. 3, pp. 81-111. 

Abstract of the principal results of the discussion of the observations 
for direction and force of the wind at Van Rensselaer harbor, 
North Greenland, second Grinnell expedition under the command 
of Dr. E K Kane, U. S. N., in 1853, 1854, and 1855. Presented by 
Prof. A. D. Bache, from reduction and discussion by Chas. A. 
Schott. Proc. Amer. Assoc. Adv. Sci., vol. 13, 1859, pp. 276-280. 
For complete paper, see Smiths. Contr. Knowl, vol. 11, art. 5, pt. 2, 
PP- 55-8i. 

Abstract of the principal results of the astronomical observations at Van 
Rensselaer harbor and other places near the northwest coast of 
Greenland, made by the second Grinnell expedition, under the com- 
mand of Dr. E. K. Kane, U. S. N., during 1853, 1854, ar >d 1855 
( from a reduction and discussion by Charles A. Schott). Proc. 
Amer. Assoc. Adv. Sci., vol. 14, 1860, pp. 9-16. For complete paper, 
sec Smiths. Contr. Knowl, vol. 12, art. 2> pp. 1-48. 

118 



CHARLES ANTHONY SCHOTT — ABBS 

Abstract of the principal results of the observations of the tides at Van 
Rensselaer harbor made by the second Grinnell expedition under 
command of Dr. E. K. Kane, U. S. N., during 1853, 1854, and 1855, 
from a reduction and discussion by Chas. A. Schott. Proc. Amer. 
Assoc. Adv. Sci., vol. 14, i860, pp. 61-74. For complete paper, see 
Smiths. Contr. Knowl., vol. 13, art. 2, pp. 1-90. 

Physical observations in the Arctic seas. By E. K. Kane, made dur- 
ing the second Grinnell expedition in search of Sir John Frank- 
lin, in 1853, !854» and 1855, at Van Rensselaer harbor and other 
points on the west coast of Greenland. Reduced and discussed by 
Chas. A. Schott. Part I.— Magnetism. II.— Meteorology. III. — 
Astronomy. IV. — Tides. Smiths. Contr. Knowl., vol. 10, vol. 11, 
vol. 12, vol. 13, 1859- 1860, pp. 340, 17 woodcuts, 1 map, 6 pis. 

Magnetical observations in the Arctic seas. By E. K. Kane. Made 
during the second Grinnell expedition in search of Sir John Frank- 
lin, in i853-'54-'55, at Van Rensselaer harbor and other points on 
the west coast of Greenland. Reduced and discussed by Charles 
. A. Schott. 1859. Smiths. Contr. Knowl., vol. 10, pp. 72, 1 wood- 
cut, 2 pis. 

Meteorological observations in the Arctic seas. By E. K. Kane. Made 
during the second Grinnell expedition in search of Sir John Frank- 
lin, in i853-'54-'55, at Van Rensselaer harbor and other points on 
the west coast of Greenland. Reduced and discussed by Charles A. 
Schott. Nov., 1859. Smiths. Contr. Knowl., vol. 11, pp. 112. 

Astronomical observations in the Arctic seas. By E. K. Kane. Made 
during the second Grinnell expedition in search of Sir John Frank- 
lin, in 1853, 1854, and 1855, at Van Rensselaer harbor and other 
points in the vicinity of northwest coast of Greenand. Reduced 
and discussed by Charles A. Schott. May, i860. Smiths. Contr. 
Knowl., vol. 12, pp. 49. 

Tidal observations in the Arctic seas. By E. K. Kane. Made during 
the second Grinnell expedition in search of Sir John Franklin, in 
1853, 1854, and 1855, at Van Rensselaer harbor [Greenland]. Re- 
duced and discussed by Charles A. Schott. October, i860. Smiths. 
Contr. Knowl.. vol. 13, pp. 90, 3 woodcuts, 4 pis. 

Results reported from the observations made for magnetic declination, 
dip, and horizontal intensity in 1859 in Sections I and II, New 
England and New York and in Canada. Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. 
Survey. 1859, app. 23, pp. 296. 

Report on the latest results of the discussion of the secular change of 
the magnetic declination, accompanied by tables showing the decli- 
nation (variation of the needle) for every tenth year from the 
earliest reliable observation for twenty-six stations on the Atlantic, 
Gulf, and Pacific coasts of the United States. Rep. U. S. Coast 
Geod. Surv., 1859, app. 24, pp. 296-305. 

Ed. 2. Title changed to secular change of magnetic declination 
in the United States and other parts of North America; new 
119 



NATIONAL ACADEMY BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS — VOL. VIII 

discussion. Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 1874, app. 8, pp. 
72-108. 
Ed. 3. Sep. publ. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 1879. 
Ed. 4. Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 1879, app. 9, pp. 124-174. 
Ed. 5. Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 1882, app. 12, pp. 211-276. 
Ed. 6. Enlarged. Apr., 1887. Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 

1886, app. 12, pp. 291-407. 
Ed. 7. June, 1889. Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 1888, app. 7, 

pp. 177-312. 
Ed. 8. Title changed to secular variation in direction and 
intensity of the earth's magnetic force in the United States 
and in some adjacent countries. Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. 
Surv., 1895, pt. 2, app. 1, pp. 167-320. 
Results reported from the observations made for magnetic declination, 
dip, and horizontal intensity (determined in i860) on Cape Cod 
peninsula, Long Island, and New Jersey. Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. 
Surv., i860, app. 29, pp. 352. 
Results of observations made on solar spots during the first seven 
months of the year i860. Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., i860, app. 
25, pp. 324-326. 
Account of Cauchy's interpolation formula. Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. 

Surv., i860, app. 37, pp. 392-396. 
Report on the latest results of the discussion of the secular change of 
the magnetic declination, accompanied by tables showing the decli- 
nation (variation of the needle) for every tenth year from the 
date of the earliest reliable observations for 26 stations on the 
Atlantic, Gulf, and Pacific coasts of the United States. Silliman 
Journ., vol. 29, May, i860, pp. 335-345. An extension of this article 
was published in the Amer. Journ. Sci., vol. 9, Jan. -June, 1875, pp. 
25-36. 
Table showing the height in feet corresponding to a given angle of 
elevation and a given distance in meters for use in the construction 
of contour lines by the plane-table. Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 
i860, app. 38, pp. 397. 
Meteorological observations made near Washington, Arkansas, from 
1840 to 1859, inclusive. By Nathan D. Smith. October, i860. Re- 
duced and discussed by Charles A. Schott. Smiths. Contr. Knowl., 
vol. 12, art. 5, pp. 96. 
Report on observations of the solar spots made at the Coast Survey 
office, Washington, D. C, from August, i860, to December. 1861, 
both inclusive. Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 1861, app. 25, pp. 
259-261. 
Discussion of the secular change of the magnetic intensity (horizontal 
and total) on the Atlantic. Gulf, and Pacific coasts of the United 
States. Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 1861, app. 22, pp. 242-251. 

[20 



CHARLES ANTHONY SCHOTT ABBE 

New discussion of the distribution of the magnetic declination on the 
coast of the Gulf of Mexico, with a chart of the isotonic curves 
for i860. Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 1861, app. 23, pp. 251-256. 

New discussion of the distribution of the magnetic declination on the 
coasts of Virginia, South Carolina, and Georgia, with a chart of 
the isogonic curves for i860. Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 1861, 
app. 24, pp. 256-259. 

Tides, currents, magnetic variation, and geographic positions of light- 
houses. Chesapeake bay and its rivers, 1861. (With A. D. Bache 
and L. F. Pourtales.) Sep. publ. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 1861. 

Observations of solar eclipse of July, i860, made at the Coast Survey 
office, Washington, D. C. Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 1861, app. 
20, pp. 239-241. 

Solar eclipse of 18th July, i860, observed at Washington. Astron. 
Journ., vol. 6, Sept. 10, 1861, pp. 150-151. Abstract of appendix 20, 
Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 1861. 

Meteorological observations in the Arctic seas. By Francis Leopold 
McClintock. Made on board the Arctic searching yacht Fox, in 
Baffin bay and Prince Regent's inlet, in 1857, 1858, and 1859. Re- 
duced and discussed by Chas. A. Schott, May, 1862. Smiths. Contr. 
Knowl., vol. 13, art. 3, pp. 164, 15 woodcuts, 1 map. 

Development of Bessel's function for the effect of periodic forces for 
durations of periods frequently occurring in magnetical and meteor- 
ological investigations ; with examples. Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. 
Surv., 1862, app. 22, pp. 232-235. 

Observations of solar spots made at the Coast Survey office, Washing- 
ton, D. C, from January to August, 1862. Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. 
Surv., 1862, app. 21, pp. 231-232. 

Results from observations made in July and August, 1862, for magnetic 
declination, dip, and horizontal intensity in Pennsylvania, including 
also one station in the District of Columbia and one in New York. 
Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 1862, app. 18, pp. 212. 

Description of Ritchie's monitor compass. Rep. Nat. Acad. Sci., 1863, 
app. 8, pp. 93-95. 

Plan for mounting of compass on board turreted iron vessels. Rep. 
Nat. Acad. Sci., 1863, app. 9, pp. 96. 

Results reported from observations for magnetic declination, dip, and 
horizontal intensity in Maine and Connecticut, including also a sta- 
tion in the District of Columbia. (With G. W. Dean.) Rep. U. S. 
Coast Geod. Surv., 1863, app. 22, pp. 204. 

Record of magnetic observations taken on board the Roanoke at the 
Brooklyn navy yard, June 5 and 6, 1863. Reports, with results, by 
Chas. A. Schott. (With G. W. Dean.) Rep. Nat. Acad. Sci., 1863, 
1864, app. 4, pp. 44-58. 

Report of the second (additional) magnetic survey of the iron-clad 
steamer Roanoke at the Brooklyn navy yard, June 24-30, 1863. 
Rep. Nat. Acad. Sci., 1863, 1864, app. 5, pp. 58-68. 

121 



NATIONAL ACADEMY BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS — VOL. VIII 

Third report on the magnetism of iron-clad vessels. Magnetic survey 
of the Ericsson battery Passaic at the Brooklyn navy yard, June 25, 
26, and 27, 1863, with an appendix on some experiments at the 
Charlestown navy yard July 3. Rep. Nat. Acad. Sci., 1863, 1864, 
app. 6, pp. 68-79. 

Fourth report to compass committee. Examination of the deviation 
of the compasses on board the United States steamer Roanoke, 
James river, Virginia, in November, 1863. Rep. Nat. Acad. Sci., 
1863,, 1864, app. 7, pp. 79-93. 

The problem of determining a position by angles observed upon a num- 
ber of given stations. Solution of Gauss, with example. Rep. U. S. 
Coast Geod. Surv., 1864, app. 13, pp. 116-119. 

Report on the method of reduction and results of connection of the 
Epping base line with the primary triangulation in the eastern 
states. Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 1864, app. 14, pp. 120-144. 

Communication on the trajectory of ricochet shot from a 15-inch Rod- 
man gun. Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 1864, app. 21, pp. 220-222. 

Report on the determination of ranges of shot from 15 and 20 inch 
guns. Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 1864, app. 22, pp. 223. 

Report on the distribution of the magnetic declination on the coast 
and parts of the interior of the United States. Rep. U. S. Coast 
Geod. Surv., 1865, app. 19, pp. 174-176. 

Geodetic connection of the two primary lines in New York and Mary- 
land, their degree of accordance and degree of accuracy of the pri- 
mary triangulation intervening, with the resulting angles and dis- 
tances as ftnally adjusted. Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 1866, 
. app. 8, pp. 49-54. 

Length of the Kent Island base line. Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 

1866, app. 8 (suppl.), pp. 140. 

Determination of time by the transit instrument. Rep. U. S. Coast 
Geod. Surv., 1866, app. 9, pp. 55-71. 

Latitude by the zenith telescope. Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 1866, 
app. 10, pp. 72-85. 

Astronomical azimuth. Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 1866, app. 11, 
pp. 86-99. 

The present annual effect of the secular change of the magnetic declina- 
tion in the eastern part of the United States, accompanied by a 
chart. Amer. Journ. Sci., 2d ser., vol. 41, Mar., 1866, pp. 149-150. 

Results of meteorological observations made at Brunswick, Maine, be- 
tween 1807 and 1859. By Parker Cleaveland. Reduced and dis- 
cussed by Charles A. Schott. May, 1867. Smiths. Contr. Knowl., 
vol. 16, pp. 60. 

Results of meteorological observations made at Marietta, Ohio, between 
1826 and 1859, inclusive. By S. P. Hildreth. To which are added 
results of observations taken at Marietta, by Joseph Wood, between 
1817 and 1823. Reduced and discussed by Chas. A. Schott. Sept., 

1867. Smiths. Contr. Knowl., vol. 16, pp. 52, 8 woodcuts. 

122 



CHARLES ANTHONY SCHOTT — ABB£ 

Physical observations in the Arctic seas. [1860-1861.] By Isaac I. 

Hayes. Reduced and discussed by Charles A. Schott. June, 1867. 

Smiths. Contr. Knowl., vol. 15, pp. 286, 15 woodcuts, 3 maps, 3 pis. 
Method of adjustment of the secondary triangulation of Long Island 

sound. Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 1868, app. 8, pp. 140-146. 
Results of the measure of an arc of the meridian of 3 23' between 

Nantucket and Farmington, Maine. Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 

1868, app. 9, pp. 147-153. 

Addenda to appendixes no. 9 and no. 11 of the Coast Survey report of 
1866 (on the determination of time by means of the transit instru- 
ment). Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 1868, app. 10, pp. 157-165. 

Report on the connection of the primary base lines on Kent Island, 
Md., and Craney Island, Va., and on the degree of accuracy of the 
intervening primary and subprimary triangulations. Rep. U. S. 
Coast Geod. Surv., 1869, app. 6, pp. 105- 112. 

Local deflections of the zenith in the vicinity of Washington city. 
Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 1869, app. 7, pp. 113-115. 

Report on the results from the observations made at the magnetical 
observatory on Capitol Hill, Washington, D. C, between 1867 and 

1869. Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 1869, app. 9, pp. 199-207. 
Observations [of the eclipse # of the sun on August 7, 1869, made] at 

Springfield, Illinois. Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 1869, app. 8, 
pp. 145-153. 

New investigations in the secular changes in the declination, the dip, 
and the intensity of the magnetic force at Washington, D. C. 
Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 1870, app. 14, pp. 107-110. 

Results of observations for daily variation of the magnetic declination 
made at Fort Steilacoom, Washington Territory, in 1866, and at 
Camp Date Creek, Arizona, in 1867. By David Walker, M. D., 
United States Army. Discussed and reported to the assistant in 
charge of the Coast Survey office by Charles A. Schott. Rep. U. S. 
. Coast Geod. Surv., 1870, app. 15, pp. 1 11- 114. 

Three rain-charts of the United States, showing the distribution by 
isohyetal lines of the mean precipitation in rain and melted snow. 
1, for the summer months; 2, for the winter months; 3, for the 
year 1870. Smiths. Inst., 1870, 20 by 14 inches. 

Comparison of the methods of determining heights by means of leveling, 
vertical angles, and barometric measures from observations at Bo- 
dega Head and Ross mountain, California. (With George David- 
son. Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 1871, app. 11, pp. 154-170. 

Same. Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 1876, app. 16, pp. 338-354- 

On the adaptation of triangulations to the various conditions of con- 
figuration and character of the surface of country. Rep. U. S. 
Coast Geod. Surv., 1871, app. 15, pp. 185-188. 

Same, with additions. Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 1876, app. 20, 
PP. 391-399- 

123 



NATIONAL ACADEMY BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS — VOL. VIII 

Determination of weights to be given to observations for determining 
time with portable transit instrument, recorded by the chrono- 
graphic method. Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 1872, app. 12, pp. 
222-226. 

Magnetic observations by means of portable instruments. Rep. U. S. 
Coast Geod. Surv., 1872, app. 14, pp. 235-254. 

Same. Ed. 2. Title changed to Instructions for magnetical observa- 
tions. Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 1875, app. 16, pp. 254-278. 

Same. Ed. 3. Title changed to Directions for magnetic observations 
with portable instruments. Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 1881, 
app. 8, pp. 126-158. 

Tables and results of the precipitation in rain and snow in the United 
States and at some stations in adjacent parts of North America 
and in Central ano^ South America. March, 1872. Smith. Contr. 
Knowl., vol. 18, pp. 178, 8 woodcuts, 5 pis., 3 double charts. 

Tables and results of the precipitation in rain and snow in the United 
States and at some stations in adjacent parts of North America 
and in Central and South America. Collected by the Smithsonian 
Institution and discussed under the direction of Joseph Henry and 
Spencer F. Baird, secretaries. May, 1881. Smiths. Inst., 1881, pp. 
269, 8 woodcuts, 5 pis., 5 charts. 

Measurement of a primary base line on Peach Tree ridge, near Atlanta, 
Ga., in 1872 and 1873. Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 1873, app. 12, 
pp. 123-131. 

On the secular change of the magnetic declination in the United States 
and other parts of North America. Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 
1874, app. 8, pp. 72-108. 

Results of observations of terrestrial magnetism at Key West, Fla., 
made between i860 and 1866. Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 1874, 
app. 9, pp. 109-130. 

On underground temperature. Rep. Smiths. Inst., 1874, pp. 249-253. 

Transit of Venus, 1769. Results of observations for determining posi- 
tions occupied in Lower California and at Philadelphia. Rep. U. S. 
Coast Geod. Surv., 1874, app. 10, pp. 131-133. 

Rain chart of the United States, showing the distribution by isohyetal 
lines of the mean precipitation in rain and melted snow for the 
year. Constructed from materials collected and observations made 
for the Smithsonian Institution with additions to 1872. U. S. Cen- 
sus office. Statistical atlas based on ninth census, 1870, 1874. 5 pis. 

Abstract of results from a new discussion of the secular change of the 
magnetic declination in the United States and some adjacent places 
in North and Central America. (Read before the National Acad- 
emy of Sciences, Nov. 4, 1874.) Amer. Journ. Sci., vol. 9, 1875, 
pp. 25-36. The paper in full published in Rep. Coast Geod. Survey, 
1874, app. 8. It is an extension of the article which appeared in 
Amer. Journ. Sci., vol. 29, May, i860, art. 29. 

124 



CHARLES ANTHONY SCHOTT — ABBE 

Report on the telegraphic determination of the longitude of Key West. 
(Signals with Washington, D. C.) Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 
1875, app. 9, pp. 139-156. 

Method of closing a circuit of triangulation under certain given condi- 
tions. (With M. H. Doolittle.) Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 

1875. app. 17, pp. 279-292. 

Tables, distribution, and variations of the atmospheric temperature in 
the United States and some adjacent parts of America. April, 

1876. Smiths. Contr. Knowl., vol. 21, pp. 360, 10 woodcuts, 3 maps. 
Observations of atmospheric refraction. Contribution No. II. Deter- 
mination of several heights by the spirit level and measures of 
refraction by zenith distances; also observations of the barometer 
at Ragged mountain, Maine, by F. W. Perkins, subassistant. Re- 
sults deduced and reported by Charles A. Schott, assistant. Rep. 
U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 1876, app. 17, pp. 355-367. 

On atmospheric refraction and adjustment of hypsometric measures. 
Contribution No. III. Determination of the coefficient of refrac- 
tion from zenith distances observed in northern Georgia, by as- 
sistants? C. O. Boutelle and F. P. Webber, in 1873 and 1874, and 
adjustment of differences of heights by application of the method 
of least squares. Discussion and report by Charles A. Schott, 
assistant. Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 1876, app. 18, pp. 368-387. 

Hypsometric formula based upon thermodynamic principles. Rep. U. S. 
Coast Geod. Surv., 1876, app. 19, pp. 388-390. 

The Pamplico-Chesapeake arc of the meridian and its combination with 
the Nantucket and the Peruvian arcs for a determination of the 
figure of the earth from American measures. Rep. U. S. Coast 
Geod. Surv., 1877, app. 6, pp. 84-95. 

Magnetic observatory at Madison, Wis. Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 

1877. app. 7, pp. 96-97. 

A treatise on the magnetic declination or variation of the needle. [De- 
signed to take the place of the chapter commencing at the foot of 
page 25 and ending in the middle of page 29 of the manual of in- 
structions to Surveyors-General of the United States, ^ printed in 
1871, a part of which has become obsolete.] 1878, pp. 12. 

Observations at Washington, D. C, of the transit of Mercury. May 6, 

1878. Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 1878, app. 7, pp. 88-91. 
[Primary triangulation between Kent island, Maryland, and Atlanta, 

Georgia, base lines.] Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 1878, app. 8, 

pp. 92-120. 
The secular change in the magnetic declination in the United States and 

at some foreign stations. Bull. Phil. Soc. Wash., vol. 3, pp. 45-50; 

Smiths. Misc. Coll., vol. 20, art. 3. 1881. 
The magnetic storm of May 14, 1878, observed in North America. 

(Communicated by Carlile P. Patterson, superintendent, United 

States Coast and Geodetic Survey.) Amer. Journ. Sci., 3d ser., vol. 

125 



NATIONAL ACADEMY BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS — VOL. VIII 

17, Mar., 1879, PP- 203-204; Nature, vol. 19, Jan. 30, 1879, PP- 2 88 _ 
289. 

Comparison of local deflection of the plumb-line in latitude, longitude, 
and azimuth at stations of the oblique arc along our Atlantic coast 
as developed on Bessel's and Clarke's spheroids. Rep. U. S. Coast 
Geod. Surv., 1879, app. 3, pp. 1 10-123. 

Report on the results of the longitudes of the Coast and Geodetic Sur- 
vey determined up to the present time by means of the electric tele- 
graph, together with their preliminary adjustment by the method 
of least squares. Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 1880, app. 6, pp. 
81-92. 

On the determination of time, longitude, latitude, and azimuth. Rep. 
U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 1880, app. 14, pp. 201-286. 

A comparison of the relative value of the polyconic projection used on 
the Coast and Geodetic Survey, with some other projections. Rep. 
U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 1880, app. 15, pp. 287-296. 

An inquiry into the variation of the compass off the Bahama islands at 
the time of the landfall of Columbus in 1492. Rep. U. S. Coast 
Geod. Surv., 1880, app. 19, pp. 412-417. 

The secular change in the magnetic declination in the United States and 
at some foreign stations. Bull. Phil. Soc. Wash., vol. 3, pp. 45-50. 
Smiths. Misc. Coll., vol. 20, art 3, pp. 18-81. 

Base chart of the United States. 1880. Smiths. Inst. 1880. 28^ x 
ig]/ 2 inches. 

The secular change in the magnetic declination in the United States and 
at some foreign stations. Bull. Phil. Soc. Wash., vol. 3, 1878-1880, 
pp. 45-50. Smiths. Misc. Coll., vol. 20, art. 3, 1881. 

Directions for magnetic observations with portable instruments. Rep. 
U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 1881, app. 8, pp. 126-158. 

Collection of results for declination, dip, and intensity from observa- 
tions made by the U. S. Coast and Geodetic Survey between iSi^Z 
and 1882. Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 1881, app. 9, pp. 159-224. 

Results of the transcontinental line of geodetic spirit leveling near the 
parallel" of 39 . First part, from Sandy Hook, N. J., to St. Louis, 
Mo., executed by Assistant Andrew Braid. Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. 
Surv., 1882, app. 11, pp. 517-556. 

On the secular variation of the magnetic declination in the United 
States and at some foreign stations. 5th ed. Rep. U. S. Coast 
Geod. Surv., 1882, app. 12, pp. 211-276. 

Distribution of the magnetic declination in the United States at the 
epoch January, 1885, with three isogonic charts. Rep. U. S. Coast 
Geod. Surv., 1882, app. 13, pp. 277-328. 

Description and construction of a new compensation primary base ap- 
paratus, including the determination of the length of the corre- 
sponding five-meter standard bars. Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 
1882, app. 7, pp. 107-138. 

126 



CHARTS ANTHONY SCHOTT — ABB£ 

Results of the length of the primary base line in Yolo County. Califor- 
nia, measured in 1881. Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 1883, app. it, 
pp. 273-288. 

Results for observations for atmospheric refraction on the line Mount 
Diablo to Martinez, California, in connection with hypsometric 
measures by spirit level, vertical circle, and barometer, made in 
March and April, 1880. Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 1883, app. 
12, pp. 289-321. 

Account and results of magnetic observations made under the direction 
of the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey, in co-operation 
with the United States Signal Office, at the United States polar 
station, Ooglamie, Point Barrow, Alaska. Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. 
Surv., 1883, app. 13, pp. 323-366. 

Account and record of the magnetic observations (made by the intei- 
national polar expedition to Point Barrow, Alaska, 1881 to 1883), 
with partial results deduced by C. A. Schott. In P. H. Ray, Re- 
port of the international polar expedition to Point Barrow, Alaska. 
(With P. Henry Ray.) Terr. Magn., pt. 6, 1885, pp. 445-674. Ab- 
stract of this report published in Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 
1883, app. 13. 

Transit of Venus of December 6, 1882, at Washington, D. C, at Te- 
pusquet station, California, and at Lehman's ranch, Nevada. (With 
J. S. Porter, B. A. Colonna, J. S. Lawson, W. Eimbeck, and R. A. 
Marr.) Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 1883, app. 16, pp. 371-378. 

International Geodetic Association of Europe. A review of Varhand- 
lungen der vom 11, bis 15, September, 1882, in Haag vereinigten 
permanenten commission der Europaischen gradmessung. Science, 
vol. 2, Nov. 16, 1883, pp. 656-658. 

Connection at Lake Ontario of the primary triangulation of the Coast 
and Geodetic Survey with that of the Lake Survey observations by 
Charles O. Boutelle. Discussed by Charles A. Schott. Rep. U. S. 
Coast Geod. Surv., 1884, app. 9, pp. 387-390. • 

Results of trigonometrical determination of the heights of the stations 
forming the Davidson quadrilaterals, California, 1876-1882. Obser- 
vations by George Davidson. Discussed by Charles A. Schott. Rep. 
U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 1884, app. 10, pp. 391-405. 

Longitude deduced in the Coast and Geodetic Survey from determina- 
tions by means of the electric telegraph, between the years 1846 and 
1885. Second adjustment. Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 1884, app. 
11, pp. 407-430- 

Geographical positions of trigonometrical points in the states of Massa- 
chusetts and Rhode Island, determined by the United States Coast 
and Geodetic Survey between the years 1835 to 1885, including those 
determined by the Borden Survey, 1832 to 1838. Rep. U. S. Coast 
Geod. Surv., 1885, app. 8, pp. 285-439. 



127 



NATIONAL ACADEMY BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS — VOL. VIII 

Same. 2d revised and enlarged edition. Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 

1894, pt. 2, app. 10, pp. 349-615- 
Geographical distribution and secular variation of the magnetic dip and 

intensity in the United States. Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 1885, 

app. 6, pp. 129-274. 
Results deduced from the geodetic connection of the Yolo base line 

with the primary triangulation of California; also a reduction and 

adjustment of the Davidson quadrilaterals, forming part of that 

triangulation. Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 1885, app. 9, pp. 441- 

467. 
Fluctuations in the level of Lake Champlain and average height of its 

surface above the sea. Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 1887, app. 7, 

pp. 165-172. 
Heights from spirit levelings of precision between Mobile, Ala., and 

Carrollton (New Orleans), La. By J. B. Weir, assistant in i885-'86. 

Report by Charles A. Schott. Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 1887, 

app. 9, pp. 185-205. 
Report of the results of spirit leveling of precision about New York 

bay and vicinity in 1886 and 1887. Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 

1887, app. 14, pp. 275-300. 
Report on the record, with computation and results of the magnetic 

observations made by the expedition to Lady Franklin bay, 1881- 

1884. In A. W. Greely report of the proceedings of the United 

States expedition to Lady Franklin bay, Grinnell Land, vol. 2, pp. 

475-635. 6 pis. 1888. Abstract of "this report published in Rep. 

U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 1887, app. 10. 
Auroral observations. In A. W. Greely report of the proceedings of 

the United States expedition to Lady Franklin bay, Grinnell Land, 

vol. 2, 1888, pp. 386-400. 
Heights from spirit leveling of precision between Mobile, Ala., and 

Okolona, Miss. Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 1888, app. 10, pp. 

409-426. 
Heights from spirit leveling of precision between New Orleans, La., 

and Wilkerson's landing, Miss., opposite Arkansas City, Ark. Rep. 

U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 1888, app. 11, pp. 427-453. 
Heights from spirit leveling of precision between Arkansas City (on 

the Mississippi river) and Little Rock, Ark. Rep. U. S. Coast 

Geod. Surv., 1888, app. 12, pp. 455-464. 
The value of the "Arcano del Mare," with reference to our knowledge 

of the magnetic declination in the earlier part of the seventeenth 

century. Bull. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., no. 5, 1888. 
Same. Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 1888, app. 6, pt. 1, pp. 167-170. 
The secular variation of the magnetic declination in the United States 

and at some foreign stations. 7th ed. Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. 

Surv., 1888, .app. 7, pp. 177-312. 

128 



CHARLES ANTHONY SCHOTT ABBE 

Geographical positions of trigonometrical points in the state of Con- 
necticut, determined by the U. S. Coast and Geodetic Survey be- 
tween the years 1833 to 1886. Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 1888, 
app. 8, pp. 313-403. 

Secular variation in the position of the agonic line of the North At- 
lantic and of America between the epochs 1500 and 1900 A. D. 
Bull. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., no. 6, 1888. 

Magnetics. The work of the Coast and Geodetic Survey in connection 
with terrestrial magnetism. In Boutelle, Short description of arti- 
cles at the Centennial exposition of the Ohio valley and central 
states. Sep. publ. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 1888, pp. 24-35. 

Historical review of the work of the Coast and Geodetic Survey in 
connection with terrestrial magnetism. Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. 
Surv., 1888, app. 6, pt. 2, pp. 171-176. 

Same. Bull. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., no. 7. 1888. 

The relation between the metric standards of length of the U. S. Coast 
and Geodetic Survey and the U. S. Lake Survey. (With O. H. 
Tittmann.) Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 1889, app. 6, pp. 179-197. 

Same. Bull. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., no. 17, 1889. 

Telegraphic determination of the longitude of a station on Mt. Ham- 
ilton. Cal., and its trigonometrical connection with the Lick Ob- 
servatory. Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 1889, app. 8, pp. 209-212. 

Same. Bull. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., no. 13, 1889. 

The distribution of the magnetic declination in the United States for 
the epoch 1890. Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 1889, app. 11, pp. 
233-402. 

Results of spirit leveling between tide water at Annapolis, Md., and 
the Capitol bench mark at Washington, D. C. Observations in 
1875 by F. W. Perkins. Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 1889, app. 
15, pp. 461-466. 

Report on the resulting length and probable uncertainty of five prin- 
cipal base lines, measured with the compensation base apparatus, 
Bache-Wurdemann of the Coast Survey, between 1847 and 1855, 
inclusive. Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 1889. app. 17, pp. 479-491. 

Approximate times of culminations and elongations and the azimuths 
at elongation of Polaris for the years between 1889 and 1910. 
Bull. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv.. no. 14, 1890. 

Same. Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 1891, pt. 2, app. 1, pp. 7-13. 

On the determination of an azimuth from micrometric observations of 
a close circumpolar star near elongation, by means of a meridian 
transit or by means of a field theodolite with eye-piece micrometer. 
Bull. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., no. 21, 1890. 

Same. Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 1891, pt. 2, app. 2, pp. 15-19. 

Results of the observations recorded at the U. S. Coast and Geodetic 
Survey magnetic observatory at Los Angeles, Cal., 1882-1889. 

129 



NATIONAL ACADEMY BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS VOL. VIII 

Part I. Results of the absolute measures of the direction and 
intensity of the earth's magnetic force. Rep. U. S. Coast 
Geod. Surv., 1890, app. 8, pp. 199-241. 

Part II. Results of the differential measures of the magnetic 
declination. Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 1890, app. g, pp. 

243-457. . 
Part III. Results of the differential measures of the horizontal 
intensity. Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 1891, pt. 2, app. 4, 
pp. 41-267. 
Part IV. Results of the differential measures of the vertical 
force component and of the variations of dip and total force. 
Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 1892, pt. 2, app. 7, pp. 253-327. 

Approximate times of culminations and elongations and of the azimuths 
at elongation of Polaris for the years between 1889 and 1910. 
Bull. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., no. 14, 1890. 

Same. Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 1891, pt. 2, app. 1, pp. 7-13. 

The magnetic observations made during Bering's first voyage to the 
coasts of Kamchatka and eastern Asia in the years 1725 to. 1730. 
Bull. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., no. 20, 1891. 

Same. Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 1891, pt. 2, app. 5, pp. 269-273. 

The secular variation and annual change of the magnetic force at 
stations occupied in connection with the U. S. eclipse expedition 
to the west coast of Africa in 1889-1890 in charge of Prof. D. P. 
Todd. Bull. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., no. 23, 1891. 

Same. Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 1891, pt. 2, app. 3, pp. 21-39. 

On the variation of latitude at Rockville, Md., as determined from ob- 
servations made in 1891 and 1892 in co-operation with the Inter- 
national Geodetic Association. Reduction of the observations and 
discussion of results. Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 1892, pt. 2, 
app. 1, pp. 17-51. 

Same. Abstract. Bull. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., no. 25, 1892. 

Results of spirit leveling of precision between Okolona, Miss., and 
Odin, 111. Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 1892, pt. 2, app. 3, pp. 
161-203. 

On the results of spirit leveling of precision between Corinth, Miss., 
and Memphis, Tenn. Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 1892, pt. 2, 
app. 4, pp. 205-224. 

Results of magnetic observations at stations in Alaska and in the 
Northwest territory of the Dominion of Canada. Rep. U. S. Coast 
Geod. Surv., 1892, pt. 2, app. II, pp. 529-533. 

On the resulting heights from geodetic leveling along the transconti- 
nental line of levels between St. Louis and Jefferson City, Mo., 
executed in the years 1882-1888. Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 
1893, pt. 2, app. 2, pp. 19-36. 

Variation of latitude at San Francisco, Cal., from observations made 
in concert with the International Geodetic Association, 1891 and 

130 



CHARLKS ANTHONY SCHOTT — ABBE 

1892. Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 1893, pt. 2, app. 11, pp. 441- 
S08. 

Magnetic survey of North America. In Rep. Chicago International 
Meteorological Congress, Aug., 1893. Bull 11, U. S. Weather Bu- 
reau, pt. 2, pp. 460-464. 

Terrestrial magnetism in North America. Prepared for the Interna- 
tional engineering congress of the Columbian exposition, 1893. 
Trans. Amer. Soc. Civ. Eng., vol. 30, Oct., 1893, pp. 108- 119. 

Magnetics. No. 6. Bull. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., no. 29. 1893. 

Formulae and tables for the computation of geodetic positions. 4th ed. 
Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 1894, pt. 2, app. 9, pp. 277-348. 

Geographical positions of trigonometrical points in the state of Massa- 
chusetts determined by the U. S. Coast and Geodetic Survey be- 
tween the years 1843 and 1894, and including those determined by 
the survey made by Borden in the years 1832 to 1838. 2d ed. Rep. 
U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 1894, pt. 2, app. 10, pp. 349-615. 

Length of the Holton base line, Indiana, with related experimental 
measures, during part of July, August, and October, 1891. Rep. 
U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 1894, pt. 2, app. 5, pp. 101-116. 

Length of the St. Albans base line, West Virginia, measured in October, 
1892. Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 1894, pt. 2, app. 6, pp. 1 17-123. 

Standard geodetic positions in southeastern Alaska, depending on astro- 
nomic observations during 1892, 1893, and 1894. Rep. U. S. Coast 
Geod. Surv., 1894, pt. 2, app. 3, pp. 71-85. 

Distribution of the magnetic declination in Alaska and adjacent waters 
for year 1895, and construction of an isogonic chart for the same 
epoch. Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv. 1894, pt. 2, app. 4, pp. 87-100. 

Same, abstract. Bull. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., no. 34. 1895. 

The direction and intensity of the earth's magnetic force at San Fran- 
cisco, Cal. Bull. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., no. 33. 1895. 

Abstract of resulting latitudes of some prominent stations in Alaska 
and adjacent parts as astronomically determined during 1889-1895. 
Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 1895, pt. 2, app. 2, pp. 321-332. 

Abstracts of resulting longitudes of some prominent stations in Alaska 
and adjacent parts as astronomically determined during 1889- 1895. 
Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 1895, pt. 2, app. 3, pp. 333-344. 

Observations of the transit of Mercury on November 10, 1894, made at 
the Coast and Geodetic Survey office, Washington, D. C. (With 
O. H. Tittmann, E. D. Preston, G. R. Putnam, and E. G. Fischer.) 
Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 1895, pt. 2, ,app. 4, pp. 345-346. 

Resulting heights from spirit leveling between Old Point Comfort and 
Richmond, Va., in 1884, 1891, and 1892. Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. 
Surv., 1896, pt. 2, app. 2, pp. 237-246. 

Resulting heights from spirit leveling between Richmond, Va., and 
Washington, D. C, in 1883 and 1884, with releveling between Rich- 

131 



NATIONAL ACADEMY BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS VOL. VIII 

mond and Fredericksburg in 1886 and verification leveling between 

the two cities in 1895. Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 1896, pt. 2, 

app. 3, pp. 247-260. 
Resulting heights from spirit leveling between Washington, D. C, and 

Hagerstown, Md., in 1883. Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 1896, pt. 2, 

app. 4, pp. 261-264. 
Resulting heights from spirit leveling between Jefferson City, Mo., and 

Holliday, Kans., in 1891-1896. Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 1896, 

pt. 2, app. 5, pp. 265-284. 
Distribution of the magnetic declination in the United States for the 

epoch January 1, 1900. 3d ed. Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 1896, 

pt. 2, app. 1, pp. 147-235- 
Telegraphic longitude net of the United States and its connection with 

that of Europe, 1866- 1896. Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 1897, pt. 2, 

app. 2, pp. 197-261. 
The telegraphic longitude net of the United States and its connection 

with that of Europe, as developed by the Coast and Geodetic Sur- 
vey between 1866 and 1896. By Chas. A. Schott, assistant. Astron. 

Journ., vol. 18, Sept. 14, 1897, pp. 25-28. 
Resulting longitudes of Kadiak, Unalaska, and Unga, Alaska, as de- 
termined chronometrically from Sitka in 1896 by the party under 

the charge of Fremont Morse, assistant. Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. 

Surv., 1897, pt. 2, app. 3, pp. 263-268. 
Resulting heights from spirit leveling between Holliday and Salina, 

Kansas, in 1895. R e P- U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 1897, pt. 2, app. 4, 

pp. 269-283. 
Secular variation of the Agonic curve ; 2 pis. Terr. Magn., vol. 2, 

Sept., 1897, pp. 123-124. 
Distribution of the magnetic dip and the magnetic intensity in the 

United States for the epoch January 1, 1900. 2d ed. Rep. U. S. 

Coast Geod. Surv., 1897, pt. 2, app. 1, pp. 159-196. 
Resulting heights from spirit leveling between Salina and Ellis, Kansas, 

in 1896. Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 1898, app. 1, pp. 179-193. 
Resulting heights from spirit leveling between Ellis, Kansas, and Hugo, 

Colo., in 1897. Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 1898, app. 2, pp. 

195-214. 
Resulting heights from spirit leveling between Hugo and Colorado 

Springs, Colo., in 1898. Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 1898, app. 

3, pp. 215-228. 
Inquiry into the relative value and need of a check of the Peruvian 

arc of 1 736- 1 743. Rep. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., 1898, app. 4, pp. 

229-232. 
The transcontinental triangulation and the American arc of the parallel. 

Spec. pub. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., no. 4, 1900. 
Recent contributions to our knowledge of the earth, shape and size, 

by the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey. Nat. Geogr. 

Mag., vol. T2, Jan., 1901, pp. 36-41. 

132 



CHARLES ANTHONY SCHOTT ABBE 

The figure of the earth. Nature, vol. 63, Feb. 21, 1901, pp. 408-410. 

Same. With addition of "a comparative table of the dimensions of 
the several spheroids which of late have come more into promi- 
nence." Sci. Amer. Suppl., vol. 51, Apr. 13, 1901, p. 21137. 

The figure of the earth. Notice of articles of same title in Nature, 
vol. 63, Feb. 21, 1901, pp. 408-410, and Sci. Amer. Suppl., vol. 11, 
Apr. 13, 1901, p. 21 137. Astron. Jahresber, vol. 3, 1901, p. 592. 

The eastern oblique arc of the United States and osculating spheroid. 
Spec. publ. U. S. Coast Geod. Surv., no. 7, 1902 [posthumous publi- 
cation!. 



Unpublished Works. 

The method of least squares. A collection and explanation of its 
formula, extracted and translated from Gerling's "Ausgleichungs- 
rechungen" (Calculus of compensations). MSS. 14 hand-written 
pages. U. S. Coast and Geodetic Survey office, Washington. 

The Geodetic Survey of the United States, its object and operations 
considered from a theoretical and practical standpoint. MSS. 11 
typewritten pages. U. S. Coast and Geodetic Survey office, Wash- 
ington. 



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